Riding On The Legs Of A Runner

Every now and then, I'll hit upon an idea that is at once both creative and awesome. Usually these ideas have to do with making things in my life more convenient. As one example, back when I first began running, I found that I never ran for very long because I always wanted to get back home to finish a good book I was reading. So, I came up with the brilliant idea of listening to audiobooks while running. But yesterday, while I made my way back home, I came up with an even better idea; one that combines convenience and efficiency with the prospect of making some money for my family!!

As I sat in New York's infamous and awful rush hour traffic, I found myself continually looking at my watch. I wasn't worried that I was going to miss a meeting. I wasn't even concerned that a store I needed to get to was about to close. Rather, I was concerned that, by the time I got home, my dopeness wife CVSW would claim that she hadn't seen me all day and that she wanted to spend some time with me and would thereby be implying that I could not go for my planned evening run that I always look so forward to. With my anxiety about to bust over, from the corner of my eye, I watched as a pedicab (this new New York phenomenon of slackers on bicycles attached to carts taxiing people around the city) almost hit into our taxicab. While the cab driver and the slacker/biker exchanged curse words, I suddenly realized the the solution to my rush hour problem was staring me straight in the eye!!

Because of all the traffic, none of these pedicabs ever moved particularly fast. In fact, none really moved faster than I could run. And so it was, dear readers, that I realized that, instead of rushing home to get in my evening run before CVSW's temper flared up, why not get in my evening run WHILE rushing home....and make some money doing it!!! I would replace the slacker and his bicycle and hook the cart (via a rope) around my waist and would run my passengers to their destination, collect the fare and run all the way home to the open arms of my wife who would no doubt be in a state of shock when I told her I wouldn't be going for my evening run!

With the work week nearing an end, I am planning my petition to Mayor Bloomberg in the hopes of getting a license for New York's first runicab!! And so, dear readers, next time you're stuck in rush hour traffic, don't be surprised when you see not a horse, nor a slacker on his bike pulling passengers behind him in a cart, but rather Mr. Petes running his passengers to any destination in New York's 5 boroughs....all for $0.50/1K!!!

Vive La France!!!

When I first began to realize that girls didn’t have koodies and that, in-fact, they were quite appealing, I also realized that I would need to begin exercising if I had any chance of landing one of the prettier girls. Many years later, my efforts proved successful as I found my dopeness wife CVSW who, as she has told me many-a time, was immediately attracted to my handsomeness borne from my constant running.

However, now that the dust has settled from our wedding, CVSW is always pestering me about why I am always running instead of cuddling with her and watching one of Bravo’s many reality tv shows. With the same mindset as I had way back when, I always tell her that I need to keep up my runs lest I fall back to the pudgy little fella’ I used to be. Inevitably, she’ll tell me I’m crazy and then will grab my rump and try to keep me from going running. What CVSW doesn’t understand is that to keep one’s lady, one must keep their appearances steady and not slack off due solely to the fact that you’re now married. While she has yet to see the wisdom in my beliefs, with the recent news coming out of France, maybe she’ll come around and finally agree with me.

Last Sunday, French president and fellow fitness-fanatic, Nicolas Sarkozy, was admitted to the hospital after he was taken ill in the middle of his daily run and was on the verge of fainting. While much has been written about le President and the cause of his illness, most articles have agreed that, at its core, Sarkozy became ill due to his incessant fitness routines in his unending efforts to be as attractive as his quite attractive wife, Carla Bruni, is, “The Mirror reported the 54-year-old president is on a diet and a "punishing" exercise routine that includes running and cycling several times a week. Bruni introduced him to a 26-year-old fitness instructor who specializes in diet and strengthening pelvic-floor muscles, the report said, adding the instructor told him to lose nine pounds and two pant sizes. This combined with his frantic work schedule appears to have taken a toll on the president”. Taking a page from my playbook, TheStar.com noted that, “But some have questioned if it's Sarkozy's desire to be as slim and fit as his glamorous 41-year-old wife that led to his collapse”.

In a number of past posts, I have commented on how Mr. President Barack Obama and myself share a passion for fitness. Both he and I always find time in our hectic schedules to get in a daily workout and, no matter how early or how late, each of us will always eventually make our way to our respective gym. Well, it now seems that the French president and I also share much in common. Not only do we both obsess over working-out but we also have very attractive wives.

And so, President Sarkozy, I do hope that you health becomes tres bien once again!

The Canvas Of A Runner

Nascar's business is based on it. While I don't watch it, European football (called soccer here in America) has done it for years. And starting with Boxing's Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, it began to find its way into individual sports. Today, we have become so used to seeing advertising in sports that, ironically, the names of the company being advertised are far less noticeable than they used to be. That being said, the practice still continues and, should you find that you have an opportunity to be placed in a situation where thousands of eyes are directed towards you, you would be remiss not to take advantage of that opportunity and find some sponsorship.

And that is exactly what Anthony Harvath, Sarah Johns, Josh O’Kain, and Krista White did. As marathon runners, these four college students noticed how many spectators come out to cheer the participants in their city's marathons, saw that, when they wrote their names on their race tshirts, many spectators actually read their names and would cheer for them specifically and realized that a great business opportunity existed for many local companies who did not want to spend millions on normal advertising outlets (print media, television, radio, etc...). Beginning this October with the Chicago Marathon, at least one of these four running-entrepreneurs will be taking part in one marathon a week for the entire year and their newly-founded company, 52 Marathons, will be selling advertising space on their race-day tshirts.

With three different advertising packages available (ranging from $10/race to $200/race with differences in size and position of company's logo or hyperlink), 52 Marathons, "will help you reach millions in your city and across the nation. The advertising packages include a hyperlink from our website to yours along with a position on the official 52 Marathons running shirt. In addition 52 Marathons’ marketing team will attend every marathon to distribute marketing materials (shirts, buttons, etc) to provide further exposure for your company".

I have to applaud these four runners for truly thinking outside-the-box. And, even if their company ends up going out of business, at least they will have gotten into phenomenal shape. I wonder if they have a refund policy should the wearer of the advertising logos fail to finish one of the 52 marathon.

Knowing A Runner Before Going Steady

If it were a person, my dopeness wife CVSW would have forbidden it a long time ago. If it were a place, it would essentially be my home, given the time I spend with it. If it cost money, CVSW and I would have already been living in a cardboard box on the streets well before this current recession began. But, luckily, it isn't a person or a place and it doesn't cost much at all to engage in. That being said, to a runner, running is as close to a best friend or to a favorite destination an any activity could possibly be. We live it. We love it. And when we aren't doing it, all we do is think about it and when we will be able to do it.

It's this obsession with the sport of running that many non-runners can't seem to grasp. And it's this obsession with running that sometimes can cause a rift in an otherwise perfect relationship. While, so luckily for me, my dopeness wife has been able to tolerate all the time I spend running, many are not as fortunate. As Turhan Jordan explains in his article, Running 101: Dating A Runner, published on Examiner.com on July 19th, "When runner meets non runner, you don’t need to throw in the proverbial towel, instantly. Understanding can go a long way in developing a healthy, beautiful relationship. The biggest challenge in this dichotomy is understanding the runner".

To understand the runner, one needs to understand passion. Because, at the end of the day, a runner's passion is often the root of all fights in relationships with loved ones. Continually, CVSW talks of my 'obsession' with running and my craziness about getting in my runs everyday. The thing is, as Jordan points out, "his seeming obsession with running may be foreign to you, but it’s far from an obsession. It’s a lifestyle. One that brings us happiness, confidence, relief, and joy". See, CVSW!!! I'm not obsessed! It's a lifestyle thing!

The other element of running that often causes amicability to quickly become adversity is the time requirements necessary to get in a good, satisfying run each day. Put simply, I spend a lot of time running every day and, with each minute that I'm gone, that is a minute my betrothed views as us not hanging together. As Jordan points out, " the challenge is to find compromise". Because CVSW and I have learned to be great communicators, we have been able to reach a fair and workable compromise: I need to wake up at 4am to run so, when CVSW wakes up, I am back home and ready to cuddle!

While I make no statements regarding my ability as a relationship counselor, I hope this post has helped many of you runners out there who find themselves in relationships with non-runners!! If your relationship does not get any better and you soon find yourself single...at least you'll have more time to run!!!

Extra, Extra, Run All About It!! The Week in Running: 7/19-7/26

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

* As reported in the Omaha World-Journal on July 19th, Artist Jamie Burmeister, probably best known for his to Omaha exhibits - 'Bucket', a swiveling, stainless-steel bucket that constantly pours water into a small pool, and 'Omaha Song', a giant sculpted “O” that plays chimes whenever anyone sits on it - has certainly taken the expression 'running is an art-form' to an extreme. Last October, Burmeister went for a 26.2 mile run (equivalent to a full marathon) and was able to film himself over the entire course. His film, or rather his films since he managed to film himself at two different angles, is now part of his latest exhibit, 'Needle In Cotton' at the Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln. When asked to describe his exhibit, Burmeister explained that, "There are two large projection screens. One shows my face as I was running. The other shows my shadow, which is what I see as I'm running. There's also an interactive table that has several components. One is a map of my route. Another is a sculpted figure of a runner on a track. And there's also a heart-rate sensor that the viewers can use to measure their own heart rates. So the viewer becomes part of the exhibit". While I am the first to admit that running is a fantastic sport, I have to say that, by the end of a marathon, I can hardly imagine anyone thinking that my face, being so contorted in pain and so caked in dried sweat, is the personification of artwork. But I have never really understood impressionism anyways, so who knows.

* As reported on Mail Online (England) on July 24th, it seems that Mr. President Barack Obama's influence on foreign affairs in becoming greater and greater with each day in office. At an hour-long question-and-answer session before hosting a Cabinet meeting, England's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown admitted that, "he tried to keep fit on a treadmill in an attempt to keep up with U.S. President Barack Obama". The article was silent on whether Prime Minister Brown intends to better his basketball skills as well.

* As reported in the Financial Times on July 25th, despite the global recession, according to Mintel, a market research company, "sales of sports and gym wear have thrived this year, despite the recession, with 36.8% of us buying at least one item in the past 12 months, compared with 35.4% in 2007". With Puma seeing a 5% increase in sales and Nike a 14% increase, it is hardly surprising that companies like Dolce & Gabbana and well-known personal trainer, Matt Roberts, would come out with their own new lines of gym clothes as well. Explaining his impetus to start his own line, Roberts told reporters, "“I was always struggling with workout gear...I could never find something that I felt really good in, something that was comfortable but flattering. Meanwhile, women were also saying to me that they didn’t like cropped vests that showed off their stomachs". In this recession, I just hope that people don't spend all of their free cash on clothes and then find themselves unable to join a gym!

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Next Weekend's Marathons

Saturday, August 1st
Southeast Road Runners Frank Maier Marathon (Juneau, AK)
Grizzly Marathon (Choteau, MT)

Sunday, August 2nd
Yukon River Trail Marathon (Whitehorse, YT)

Simple Jack's Running Instinct

In the movie Cast Away (the DVD of which I quickly castaway after watching since I hated it so), Tom Hanks talked to his friend the soccer ball for hours on end. In the movie I Am Legend, Will Smith sings Jammin’ to himself as Bob Marley plays on his radio. And, in the movie Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller adopts a wooden figurine as his son (in between performances of Simple Jack). In each of these examples, these characters, when faced with dire situations, were able to power on their survival skills and do what was necessary to keep their sanity in check. When push came to shove, their instincts led them to action. And, in this way, these characters are not so different from most runners.

In his fascinating article, To Live Is To Jog, published by BBC News on July 20, Christopher McDougall posits that running is one of the most instinctual habits of the human race. Throughout history, McDougall notes, humans have continually turned to running whenever danger or a threat thereof is afoot, “[running is] our first and greatest survival skill when we sense the raptors approaching”.

Like the stock market, the housing market and any other phenomena whose momentum is fueled by human emotion, running has had its periods of increasing popularity and of waning interest. In fact, as McDougall points out, there have been three periods in which participation in running events nationwide has skyrocketed. But what’s odd about these three booms is that each one took place amidst a global crisis.

With the first coming during the Great Depression, the second coming in the 1970s during a recession, race riots and the war in Vietnam and the third coming shortly after 9/11 (trail running became the fastest-growing outdoor sport in the United States), it is clear that people have been instinctively turning to running as a means to gain some peace in an otherwise un-peaceful world.

McDougall concludes his article by noting that, given people like Nelson Mandela who was a cross-country runner and still jogged seven miles a day in place in his cell and Abraham Lincoln who was known for ‘beating all the other boys in a foot race’, “Running used to be vital for survival - and now, as tens of thousands turn out for the London Marathon and millions more fill the parks after work, we're instinctively realizing that it still is”.

May I See Your License And Marathon Registration

A few days ago, while staying at my parents' house in Long Island for the weekend, I was midway into a DEE-licious run outdoors when I noticed a po-po cruiser stopped on the side of the road with a screen standing on its trunk telling each oncoming vehicle what their current speed was. I had seen these public odometers on the side of many-a road before and didn't think much of it at first. Because I was blasting my 80s techno remixes as I ran, at that stage in my run, the only way I could tell if a car was approaching me was by looking at the po-po contraption to note the speed of an approaching car (because of my preference to run with traffic as opposed to following the law and running against it, the radar was displaying the speed of the cars that were coming from behind me).

As I closed the distance between me and the empty police car, the speed monitor all of sudden began flashing '7mph', then '8mph' and then back to '7mph' again. I thought that rather slow for a moving vehicle and began to get slightly nervous that a crazed fan had recognized me and was slowly trailing me in an effort to eventually pull me over and ask for an autograph. Telling myself to remain calm, I continued for a few seconds thinking that maybe the slow moving vehicle would pull away. When it didn't, I decided to act as though I had decided to move to the other side of the street and thus needed to casually look behind me to make sure there were no vehicles blocking my path. As I looked back, I was relieved to see that no stalker was in-fact behind me. It was then that I realized that the po-po radar was actually clocking my running speed!

I have passed by these speed deterrents before but never had I seen it actually clock my running speed. After my initial shock had passed, I began to feel slightly embarrassed by the single digit flashing on the screen. I quickly ran past it (noting the flashing '9mph') and looked behind me, comforted by the empty stretch of road. Upon my run's concluding mile, I was forced to run past the po-po cruiser once again, but luckily, the radar was pointed in the opposite direct and my speed was not clocked again.

The next day, as I passed by the same area, I sped up so as not to be embarrassed once again. Relieved to see that the po-po had moved to a different street, I began to think of the irony of the situation: in setting up a mechanism to deter would-be speeders, the police department had actually created a tool that caused me to go faster and run a tad more recklessly. Now, I just wish they would set these things up along a marathon course. My time would be guaranteed to go down!!

Weighed Down By Technology's Burden

Finally, the day has arrived. After so many weeks of head shaking and head scratching, the day of head nodding has arrived. The New York Times' Tara Parker-Popehas finally written an article I agree with! Not only agree with, but practice in my own running life.

My relationship with Parker-Pope's articles began on very rocky footing. First, was my shock at her encouraging walking during a marathon. And then came my jaw-dropping bewilderment when she wrote an article about the benefits of replacing long runs with long bed rests. Now, however, after her July 17th article, A Simpler Exercise Gadget, our relationship has found a suitable foothold for sustainability. Of course, Parker-Pope's article is really only an endorsement of a different article and not a well researched opinion piece in which she compares alternatives and comes to her own conclusion. But nonetheless, she is preaching to a choir which I have already joined. And that is something, right?

In six short sentences, Parker-Pope notes that, these days, too many runners are negatively impacted by the weight of too many high tech gadgets they strap to themselves during runs. Pointing out that, "Sometimes personal technology for exercise can get a little cumbersome", Parker-Pope cites fellow New York Times journalist, Daneille Belopotosky's July 17th article, Marathon Tech Review: Nike SportsBand to support her argument.

With the myriad of running-related tech gear available on the market today, Belopotosky notes, "In one of my early runs, I set out with a bulky GPS watch that communicated with a heart monitor that was strapped to my chest, a foot sensor that beamed information to an iPod Touch in an armband that occupied the greater part of my upper arm, and headphones. I have to admit, I was a little geeked out". Despite forgetting about the most cumbersome of all running gear, those ridiculous multi-water bottle belts that carry up to a reservoir of water on a runner's waist, Belopotosky's argument is exactly right. There is simply no need for a runner to know the exact coordinates of their run or their heart rate while engaging in that run. With the awesome Nike+ Sportsband able to keep track of time, distance, pace and calories burned and with it being no bigger than a Swatch watch, there is no need for anything else. There are interweb websites that can tell you your GPS coordinates when you get home from running and, if you put all your effort into your run, your heart rate will probably be high during that run. There is simply no need to know this type of information on a real-time basis.

While three months ago, I was quite skeptical that these words would ever come out of my mouth, I am happy to report that that skepticism was completely unfounded. Because, much to my un-chagrin, I am happy to report that I completely agree with Tara Parker-Pope!

The Bad Boy Of Running

I have never liked a tattletale. Starting in kindergarten, when I stole the kid to my right's blue blocks and secretly gave him all my pink ones, I have always been somewhat of a bad boy. Enjoying to live life closer to the edge than to the middle, I prefer doing what I want to do rather than being told what to do. Predictably, leading a lifestyle similar to mine own, you oftentimes come in contact with those who can't put one foot in front of the other without getting permission first. People who live life by a strict interpretation of all rules and regulations. People who oftentimes clash with people of my ilk. And, when push comes to shove, these permission-seeking people often run to their mommies or other persons of authority and tattletale about the goings on with the bad boys. At the very least, the tattlers will at least bring to the attention of the rule-violators that their are actively engaged in the breaking of a given rule. While these types of encounters, at least in my experience, have been limited to educational settings and happened more frequently when we were all younger, I have started to notice that these instances have unfortunately been slowly increasing in my current running life. And I'm getting tired of it!!

In a past post, I wrote about the traffic rules governing outdoor running. If you'll remember, while the law states that runners must run against traffic (i.e. run towards oncoming vehicles), frequently runners tend to ignore these rules and run with traffic (which, in my opinion, feels more natural). I have never seen roads so congested with runners that this rule violation ever amounts to anything. It's a given that cars will be annoyed at runners no matter what side of the street they are running on. It's also a given that bikers will make rude comments and direct evil stares at runners no matter if they are running on the street (the legal side or not) or the sidewalk. So, the only people who would have a problem with me running on the wrong side of the street would be other runners. And, as Chris Farley so accurately pointed out in the acclaimed movie, Tommy Boy, "Brothers don't shake hands. Brothers hug!"

But that has not been the case these days. Whenever I am running on the wrong side of the road, and I pass a fellow runner who is running legally, too many of these goodie-two-shoes have begun pointing out the error of my ways to me. They'll either yell across the street at me (assuming their message will be loud and clear despite my wearing headphones) or, if they are on the same side of the road as me (thus, coming towards me), won't budge even a centimeter from their line and will force me to move aside. Some even, possibly being influenced by the jerk bikers, ogle me with hate-filled eyes and shake their heads in a negative connotation. While most of these runners tend to be on the older side, this fact does not provide enough reason to justify their rudeness. With so much aggression and hostility directed towards runners already, we don't need more coming from our own.

To be clear, I am well aware of my violating the letter of the law whenever I am running with traffic. That said, come on!!! The rule doesn't really make sense and, even if it did, there is no reason to be so hostile towards violators. For the most part, there is a great sense of camaraderie among outdoor runners. We wave to each other. We make sure a stopped runner is ok. But every now-and-then, we need to be reminded of these fact. Because, at the end of the day, we are a band of brother and, as Farley noted, we should be hugging.

Me And My Buddy Joe

He was ultra-light. He was smooth. Some might even say he was addictive. But, two years ago, my fiancee CVS gave me an ultimatum: her or him. You see, dear readers, my fiance's problem lay not in jealousy but in her love for me. Evidently, my best friend Joe Camel was slowly killing me. And woe he that gets in the way of my fiancee CVS and her man. Having had a relationship with Joe for almost 10 years at that time but strongly wanting to continue the one I had with my fiancee CVS, I knew that an eleventh year with Joe would not be in my future. Oddly enough, my love of running never figured into the matter and, since that last delicious puff of Joe two years ago, I have not really noticed any particular increase in my running performance. Nevertheless, on New Years Day two years ago, I quit smoking.

Luckily for me, my fiance's problem with cigarettes was based solely on the tar and chemicals and not on the nicotine itself. While most anti-smoking ads would lead one to assume that every component of a cigarette is bad for one's health, it is really just that tar and those chemicals that are unhealthy. Nicotine, in-and-of itself, is no more harmful to the human body than an ill-fitting dress is to the human figure. It may not look good, but it won't have any long-lasting effects.

Anyways, on the day I quit smoking, I decided to ease my pain slightly and began chewing Nicorette, the nicotine-infused gum that is meant to aid one's efforts at stopping smoking permanently. Two years later, while I can proudly say that my efforts to quit smoking have continued to be 100% successful, I have to admit that I am crazily addicted to Nicorette and, in fact, would have preferred the gum to the cigarettes during my ten years of smoking had I known about it. With all the soothing benefits of a cigarette without any of the damaging effects, how anyone couldn't love Nicorette, I can't understand. Anywhere I am, be it a plane, at dinner, in a movie or at a discotheque, I can feel like I am smoking and not be asked to put out my cigarillo. It has been quite excellent indeed!!

What does all of this have to do with running? Well, the list of all the places I have been able to chew a piece of nicotine gum where I wouldn't have been able to smoke a cigarette, has (fortunately or unfortunately) extended to while running as well. I'll just say this to all you doubters out there: it was quite a nice treat on that first day when I forgot to spit out my Nicorette before I began running and realized how relaxing and calming it is to chew as mile after mile goes by. While I didn't find that my performance increased perceptibly while chewing the gum, I will say that I found the overall experience slightly more enjoyable.

Interestingly enough, after doing some research on the interweb, I came across an interesting report written by Toby Mundel and David A. Jones of The University of Birmingham's School of Sport And Exercise Sciences located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Testing the effect of nicotine on endurance, Effects of Transdermal Nicotine Administration On Exercise Endurance In Men concluded that "Ten out of 12 subjects cycled for longer with [nicotine] administration, and this resulted in a significant 17 ± 7% improvement in performance. No differences were observed for perceived exertion, heart
rate or ventilation. There were no differences in concentrations of plasma glucose, lactate or circulating fatty acids. In the absence of any effect on peripheral markers, we conclude that nicotine prolongs endurance by a central mechanism". Interesting. It seems that I may be taking some form of a performance enhancing drug but, until it becomes a banned substance, I don't really see much of problem here. I hope!!

To be clear, I am not endorsing the chewing of Nicorette to increase your running endurance and performance. I am simply trying to show those runners who are also smokers (and we all know there are many out there) that there is a better and much healthier alternative out there. As for my old pal Joe Camel, I can't say that I miss him. While our friendship may have ended a few years back, my relationship with my fiancee CVS blossomed and, as many of you know, she eventually became my dopeness wife CVSW!

Thanks C for getting to me to quit smoking!!

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.

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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)

Eating A Treadmill For Lunch

Aside from the excellent people and even more excellent authors, the thing that influenced me the most in choosing my awesome new job was the fact that there is an Equinox gym in the lobby of the office building. Knowing that my new position would not take me too far from a treadmill gave me a sense of comfort and warmth that one should always look for when choosing where to work.

As it approached lunch hour on my first day (this past Monday), I ignored the hunger pangs of my belly and headed right to the Equinox to sign up for an extreme membership (or, at the very least, an ordinary membership). After repeatedly turning down the 'sales manager's' incessant sales pitch as to why it was in my interest to sign up for the yearly membership that would grant me access to every Equinox in the nation (with my work never requiring me to travel and with my apartment building's gym, there was no chance I would ever go to any Equinox but this one), only the Equinoxes in New York City (same reason) and a two-year membership (shorter is always better), I signed my name on the dotted line of my one-year membership at ONLY this Equinox, bid the sales manager adieu and headed to the locker rooms to get changed and get runnin'!

A few weeks ago when Uncle was staying with us for the weekend, he had told me how he likes going to Equinox because of the sense of camaraderie with the other people there who share in his obsession with working out. Since, on any given day, there are usually at most 3 other people in my building's gym with me, I had never felt this kind of camaraderie which Uncle spoke of. Upon hitting the 'Start' button on the Life Fitness treadmill in the Equinox on Monday, I instant knew what Uncle was talking about. Surrounded by at least 15 other treadmill users, I did feel a kind of bond amongst us despite no words ever being exchanged. I was also quite surprised at just how many people choose to exercise instead of eating lunch and I have been quite pleased with Equinox experience thusfar.

Among some of the things I have noticed over the (running) course of the past three days, I have found that:

1) During the lunch hour, you never see any really out-of-shape people at the gym. I have only seen one or two Treadmill Walkers and have realized that only the really devoted fitness fanatics exercise during lunch.

2) There are many more men in the locker room than I thought who have absolutely no problem walking the 100 feet or so to the showers completely nude.

3) The blow dryer is a fantastic tool to use to stymie the sweat from continuing to cascade down your body after your workout when you are getting back into your work attire.

Anyways, hopefully my job as well as my experiences at Equinox will continue to be as dopeness as they have been during these three excellent dog days of Summer. I just hope that, as the winter months approach, I see less and less nude men during my lunch breaks!

I Can Feel It Coming In The Air Tonight

In the classic song In The Air Tonight (which I have countless awesome techno remixes of), Phil Collins, in his smooth pre-pubescent voice, wrote, "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord, Ive been waiting for this moment, all my life, oh lord..." While I have little idea as to what 'it' refers to, I do know that, as I write this post on Tuesday night, Mr. Collins' sentiments can certainly be felt around this island city of Manhattan. For, as I made my way home from my awesome new employment situation, I could feel a palpable excitement in the air. A sense of anticipation second only to the way one feels while waiting in line at a McDonald's. For, in less than 12 hours, the world will be introduced to.....the new and improved Nike+ SportsBand!!!

A little less than a year ago, I wrote an informative post about how awesome the Nike+ SportsBand was. As unluck would have it, very soon after publishing my post, Nike announced that they had discontinued the SportsBand due to faulty manufacturing. Trying to save a buck or two, Nike had commissioned some company in Taiwan to make their revolutionary SportsBand only to realize, after they had begun selling them to the general public, that they were made without any water-sealant adhesive thus causing them to break upon one drip of sweating hitting their face. I, along with countless others, were continually replacing/returning one broken SportsBand for a new/soon-to-be-broken SportsBand and it finally got to the point where Nike simply discontinued the line until a new company could be commissioned.

I had always preferred the SportsBand to the original Nike+ chip since the SportsBand did not require a stupid Apple iPod and thus did not take up your iPod's screen (which caused some problems in terms of playing audiobooks or fast forwarding within individual songs). That being said, I still would rather the Nike+ chip to nothing.

Anyways, at long last, Nike has re-released their awesome product of a year ago. Let's hope this year's reincarnation is built properly. Let's hope this year's reincarnation doesn't break as easily. And, most importantly, let's hope that I can get the song In The Air Tonight out of my mind sometime very soon!!

Pacing An Unpacely Pace

Lining up for any major marathon is an experience in-and-of itself. Especially if you are a ‘middle of the pack’ kinda guy like myself. No matter what direction you look, you are surrounded by a sea of people. With so many colors of tshirts, hair, hats and headbands, it is nearly impossible to distinguish one person from the next no more than 30 feet behind or in front of yourself. But there is one thing that has a tendency to stick out like a sore thumb (or, given the occasion, a sore foot). Flying about four feet higher than the tallest person and spaced every 20-40 feet, are those glowing orange signs signaling a pacing person. These are the guys whose job it is to signal what their finishing time will be and allow runners who have a certain finishing
time goal in mind to line-up with them in the starting corrals. They are volunteers who have run in marathons before and have the discipline and knowledge to know what their pace is while running and have the ability to maintain it (for the most part) over the (running) course of a 26.2 mile running course.

While I find these pace setters to be generally useful, it is always somewhat surprising to see those volunteers who promise run participants that they will be running anywhere from a 13 minute/mile pace to an 11 minute/mile pace. For those of you who have run on treadmills before that is the equivalent of running at 4.6mph-5.5mph. Now, while I am by no means a fast runner, even I can appreciate that that is a relatively slow pace. And, since I have been on treadmills before at those paces, I can tell you firsthand that it does not seem so much different when running at 4.6mph or at 5.5mph. I guess my point is that it just seems odd to me that there are people who are practiced marathoners who want to, and have the ability to, maintain such a slow pace (and bear in mind that these people are not very old in terms of their age, so father time cannot be blamed for their slowing pace) for such a long amount of time. I also feel that, even if it ended up that I had averaged between 4.6mph and 5.5mph for a whole marathon, I would never have made the conscious decision to begin the race assuming that would be my ultimate pace.

I am sure there are many out there that will strongly disagree with my assertions, but, hey, there's nothing wrong with differing views and some good ol' fashion debatin' (albeit, mine are correct). And so, dear readers, with the fall marathon season fast approaching, good luck on your training. Good luck in whichever marathon you are participating in. And, here to hopin' I don't see you at beginning a marathon intent on averaging 4.6mph-5.5mph!

Training To Train For A Marathon

A marathon is a grueling test of endurance, athleticism and perseverance. To run 26.2 miles is no small feet (misspelled pun intended). It is far from a normal occurrence and consequently, requires a marathoner, whether a first-timer or not, to train his or her body to go the distance. But here's the thing: not only is a marathon a test of one's running ability but it's also a test of one's mental fortitude. That's what gets many marathon runners. That's what stops them at mile 22 when their body feels like it is on fire, if they can feel it at all. To end the pain and simply give up is all-too alluring and, unless you have mentally trained yourself for that pain, you're most likely going to give in to the allure and quit after having traveled so far and needing to travel not so must further. Most people think that a marathon training regimen is only meant to help build up the strength and endurance necessary to run 26.2 miles. But that thinking is wrong. It misses a key factor necessary to complete any marathon. It misses the mental aspect entirely. For, while active endurance is certainly a key factor that will aid you in getting from the start line to the finish line, without the corresponding mental endurance, 26.2 miles will seem like 126.2 miles. As anyone who has finished a marathon will tell you, patience, a strong will and mental toughness are just as important as the ability to run far distances is in tackling a marathon.

With T,H,E K,I,D and myself set to take on 26.2 miles of Chicago's finest streets in less than 3 months and with 37,000 people on our heels in the New York Marathon in less than 4 months, marathon training has begun around the country. For me, the hardest part of marathon training is not actually doing the long runs on the weekends. No matter how long it would take me - and, if past performance if any indication, running upwards of 15 miles would take up quite a chunk of my morning - I don't doubt that I would be able to complete the double-digit runs required of me were I to follow one of the many marathon training programs available to all runners. It's the discipline and patience that doing these runs would require that gets me every year. I promise myself I'll do an 18-miler in the morning and, as I complete the 7th mile of that run, I'll decide to just end there and enjoy the remaining hours of my weekend. This mental breakdown occurs every weekend until there are none left before the day of the marathon I am training for. And there are many like me who don't take the mental part of marathon training particularly seriously. We take this hubris with us as we pass the starting line and, like whichever of Shakespeare's character whose hubris ultimately led to his downfall, so to it is in our case. Despite having finished each marathon I have begun, I have never been able to run an entire marathon and, on average, have walked probably about two of the last five miles in each. When the pain comes-a calling, my will to continue running is replaced by a strong desire to walk. And, unfortunately, I have conceded to those desires every time. Maybe, if I had strictly followed a marathon training schedule, those walks would not have happened. Maybe not.

While I have acknowledged this second aspect to marathon training every year for the past 5 years and dismissed it out-of-hand, I have promised myself that this year will be different. And while I may have missed New York Road Runners' first marathon tune-up run yesterday, I hope that that will be the last one I miss until I hit the streets of Chicago. Then again, I have had the exact same hopes every year around this time as well. And you know how those turned out!

Extra, Extra, Run All About It!! The Week in Running: 7/05-7/12

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

* As reported on Autoblog.com on July 6th, this year's Goodwood Festival Of Speed, an annual festival featuring historic motor racing vehicles competing in a hill climb race on the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England and organized by sports scientists at the Porsche Human Performance Centre, was a record setting festival indeed. While vehicular competitions are usually the focal point of the Festival, this year, many watched in awe as 12 runners, aided by special Adidas running shoes, set a new world record for the longest distance covered over 48 hours on a treadmill. With each runner running a 45-mile shift at an average speed of 11.3 mph, the group completing a jaw-dropping 539.86 miles last weekend. While Porsche is known mostly for their small, sleek and sexy 911 coupe, they firmly believe that, in the words of Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB, "the most important component of the car is the driver, and the Human Performance laboratory advises drivers on optimising their own endurance levels whether on the road or race circuit".


* As reported on ABCNews.net.au (Australia) on July 8th, a horse trainer was injured on a treadmill at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse after he slipped and fell. However, it was not he who was actually engaged in any running. Rather, his injury occurred while he was leading a horse off of its equestrian treadmill and, after he slipped on the machine, the horse proceeded to topple over and fall on the trainer's chest. I have written about equestrian treadmills in the past and, not once, has the story ever ended with anything but something having gone wrong. When will people understand that treadmills simply weren't built for horses!

* As reported on CommunityNewswire.com on July 10th, possibly in an effort to help create a healthier traffic flow in the streets of London, Three2go has set up a 5K race reserved only for London cab drivers dubbed the Cabbies On The Run. On September 12th, Three2go is holding three races, the East London Trail Marathon, a 5K and a 1K, in the Lee Valley and Hackney Marshes inspired by the annual countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games and will have a designated wave in the 5K just for taxi drivers. Cab drivers who sign up for the race will be weighed in and given a nine-week training program to prepare for the 5k run. I wonder how many of those cab drivers who participate in the Cabbies On The Run will take a taxi home upon completion of the race!

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Next Weekend's Marathons

Saturday, July 18th
University Of Okoboji Marathon (Okoboji, IA)

Sunday, July 19th
Friendly Massey Marathon (Massey, ON)

Increasing The Unemployment...Pace!

If the unemployment rate continues to increase, Boston is going to run into (no pun intended) many problems next April. Beyond the typical and predictable problems all states run into (pun intended this time) as they face an ever-growing citizenry of the unemployed, Beantown is at risk of losing the aura and mystique that surrounds its annual Boston Marathon. As the only marathon in this country that requires its participants to have finished a previous marathon in an admittedly swift pace, most runners view the Boston Marathon as a race they can only dream about running. And it is this very elitism that is being threatened by the unfortunate increasing rate at which people are finding themselves unemployed.

You may be asking yourselves, 'Mr. Petes, what do you mean? How can an increasing unemployment rate affect the Boston Marathon?'

Well, dear readers, the answer lies in Reed Albergotti's article, Fast Times For Jobless Runners, published in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Detailing how, despite the growing unemployment and the ever worsening economy, as a group, runners seem to be thriving, Albergotti notes that "the changing economic landscape could forever alter the way Americans view recreational and competitive athletics, as more people discover the joys of training and competing". More than just discovering the joys of training, it seems that many runners are actually flourishing and are increasing their performance and speeds. With more free time to train and exercise like they hadn't been able to do while employed, "laid-off marathon runners are actually helping push up the level of competition within their age groups". In fact, according to Athlinks.com, a Web site that tracks millions of race results, 4.6% of all marathon finishers have run times that would make them eligible for the once elite Boston Marathon, a 39% increase over 2008. In addition, marathon participation is up 5.1% over 2008 and gym membership is up 18% from last year.

While there is no direct evidence that proves the correlation between the unemployment rate and the number of people qualifying for the Boston Marathon, there is certainly enough to demonstrate the effect of unemployment on the number of people who have turned to, or continue to, exercise as a way to relieve the stress of the world around them. Despite having written a past post about the increasing participation rates in this year's marathons, I'll admit that even I was taken aback by the enormous percentage increases from last year with respect to Boston qualifying, gym memberships and even marathon participation.

And so, to all those that will receive a pink slip in the next few months, cheer up! While your job may no longer be there for you, the many roads, trails and parks in this country are always waiting for you...and for your running shoes!!

Might As Well Face It, I'm Addicted To Running

I remember the day fondly. January 17, 2007. My girlfriend CVS and I were at my parents' house in Long Island still in the initial stages of the courting process. I had just pulled out a small black Nike plastic bag from my knapsack which held an item I had purchased the day previous and wanted to take a look at. I pulled a little square box from the bag and read the words 'Nike+ running sensor' at the top of the box.

"What is that?" asked my girlfriend CVS who I had begun digging very much lately.

"It's some chip you attach to your shoes and your stupid Apple iPod which then keeps track of your runs. It is supposed to be able to tell you how far you ran, how long it took you and the calories burned. Apparently, it then saves all this information on the interweb."

"That's so neat!" exclaimed my girlfriend CVS.

"Agreed," said I, "Now, before I see if this thing actually works, let's go make out!"

Our make out session concluded, I headed downstairs to hook up my Nike+ sensors and then went off to see for myself just what this little chip could do.

And after my first stride, I was hooked.

When my first run had been uploaded and I had viewed the incredibly accurate data the chip had collected, I found myself wanting to run again just to increase my numbers.

Almost two-and-a-half years later, with upwards of 8,000 miles under my belt in that time, my desire to continue increasing my Nike+ numbers has not decreased a bit. And, while my girlfriend CVS has become my dopeness wife CVSW, my glowing reviews of the Nike+ system remain glowing.

So why this obsession with my running numbers?

According to the article The Nike Experiment: How the Shoe Giant Unleashed the Power of Personal Metrics, published in Wired Magazine on June 22, 2009 which described the effect the Nike+ running system has had on users, my running addiction is the product of a well-known theory among sociologists called the Hawthorne Effect. In its simplest terms, the Hawthorne Effect is a form of reactivity whereby subjects improve an aspect of their behavior being experimentally measured simply in response to the fact that they are being studied, not in response to any particular experimental manipulation. And this is exactly what was happening to me the moment I used the Nike+ sensor. As soon as I saw the statistics of my first run, I began actively observing myself and my performance and began wanting to increase that performance as much as possible. And, by combining a dead-simple way to amass data with tools to view and share it, Nike+ has used the theory of Living by Numbers (the ability to gather and analyze data about yourself, setting up a feedback loop that you can use to upgrade your lives, from better health to better habits to better performance) to exploit the Hawthorne Effect to its fullest.

I guess that just about says it all. I'm happy that I can cite the cause for my running addiction the next time T,H,E K,I,D or The Gull berates me for my obsessive ways.

Anyways, all this writing about Nike+ has me itching for a run. And it most definitely is an itch I want to scratch!

No Giving In To The Meandering Runner

Living in New York City has its benefits and its drawbacks. This is true not only for the population of New Yorkers generally but also for the population of New Yorkers who are also runners. On the one hand, New York is home to probably more runners than in any other state in America. For any given race held by the New York Road Runners Club on any given weekend, it is not unusual to see upwards of 5,000 eager runners lining up to compete in races as short as 4 miles and as long as half a marathon. That's the benefit to living in New York City. The drawbacks are largely all borne out of the simple lack of space to house everything the Big Apple offers to citizens and visitors alike. Home to most major companies, many famous museums and art galleries, all of Broadway's differing genres of theatrical performances, two baseball teams, a hockey team, a basketball team (alas, both the New York Giants and New York Jets actually play in New Jersey) and approximately 8 million people, New York certainly gets the most out of what little space it has. As a runner living in this island city-o'-plenty, I have gotten used to the lack of different running courses and to constantly having to avoid the mass of foot and road traffic that stands between me and that day's finishing line. Unfortunately, however, there are many runners who don't seem to grasp this give-and-take notion when it comes to living in New York City and don't feel as though compromise need be made. While, initially, I was quick to agree with their sentiments, upon some thoughtful reflection, I have found myself aghast at their selfishness and inclined to disagree with them wholeheartedly.

For some time now, the people at the advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives, have been on a mission "to reclaim New York City's streets from the automobile, and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives". Sounds altruistic, no? Well, I thought so too at first. But not anymore. One of Transportation Alternative's biggest initiatives, which happens to still be on-going at the time of this writing, is to put an end to all vehicular traffic at all times in New York's Central Park. As it stands right now, cars are allowed access on weekdays (never on weekends) through the Park's roadways from 8:00am until 10:am on the West Drive (from 110th Street South to Central Park South & 7th Avenue), 3:00pm until 7:00pm on the East Drive (from 72nd Street & Fifth Avenue to 110th Street), 7:00am until 7:00pm on the Center Drive (from the 6th Avenue entrance on Central Park South to the East 72nd Street & 5th Avenue exit) and 8:00am until 10:00am on the 72nd Street Cross Drive (from 72nd & 5th to West Drive South). Believing these restrictions not limiting enough, Transportation Alternatives has argued that, "the presence of car traffic mars the experience of the park for recreational users and poses a serious and ongoing safety and health hazard" and that, "Drivers are in the park precisely when recreational use is at its peak". Thusfar, Transportation Alternatives has been unsuccessful in accomplishing a total ban of cars in Central Park but, with ever increasing support, their goal may become a reality sometime not so far away.

Many times in my storied past, I have found myself running in Central Park and becoming quite agitated each time a car zoomed past me. It is distracting, dangerous and simply unpleasant. But, being as this took place in New York, it is just something I have gotten used to. As the incredibly frustrating congestion on seemingly every single road within the city's borders gets more and more frustrating everyday, I think opening up more road space is a good idea. With two sufficiently wide lanes designated for biking and running, the roads of Central Park can accommodate runners, bikers and drives at the same time. And, perhaps more importantly, the great majority of those affected by drivers in Central Park are those that use the park during the that time of the weekdays when most people should be working!! Granted there are many who are gainfully employed who are able to get in a run at 7:00am, 8:00am and, even, 9:00am, but, for the most part, the vehicular traffic rules largely affect only those who aren't at work in the midday. Why should we inconvenience those who are productive citizens trying to get to work quicker in vehicles for those who have the luxury of being able to run or bike at 2pm on a Wednesday? The simple answer is, we shouldn't.

A Crazy Uncle And The Handsome Nephew

While not to as big of an extent as a grandfather, an uncle's duties, among others, is to give his nephew sage advice if such nephew should ever seek such advice. Whether it be about career choices, family problems, issues concerning the opposite sex or life in a more general sense, an uncle's advice can provide the framework from which his nephew's life is built upon. But what would happen if a nephew finds himself seeking advice and the uncle whom he turns to happens to be an obsessive compulsive when it comes to issues the nephew is seeking to resolve? What would happen if, while in the short-run an uncle's advice proves helpful, such advice ultimately leads to a nephew becoming as obsessive compulsive as the uncle to whom he has turned? Well, dear readers, this is the exact situation I found myself in this past holiday weekend and, while I acknowledged the foolishness of following such harmful advice given by just such an uncle, I also began thinking that my uncle was wise beyond his years and perhaps, it would behoove me to adhere to the works spoken by this revered family member.

Running must be in my family's bloodlines. With my papa, T,H,E K,I,D, my dopeness wife CVSW (though she is not of my bloodline, she is very much part of my family) and Uncle all big running enthusiasts, running itself has almost become another member of our family. Compounded with our fondness for the sport, Uncle (it should be noted that, through some odd machinations, Uncle is actually 2 years my junior in age) has emerged as a ridiculously fast runner who is able to keep pace with the elites in any road race. When I heard that Uncle would be staying with my family at my parents' house in the country, I immediately grew excited about all the insightful tidbits of running I hoped to receive from Uncle over the (running) course of the weekend. From past conversations with Uncle, I knew that he engaged in rather extreme and odd workout regimens that, within a timeframe of no longer than two or three years, had turned him from a slightly portly child into a highly tuned running machine able to maintain a six minute mile pace for a substantial amount of time.

When I saw a plume of gravel and dust billowing from the driveway, I assumed Uncle had arrived and his lighting fast speed had caused the disturbance in the driveway. When I saw that Uncle had actually arrived in a car, I was still no less excited to delve into his mind and find out just what would be required of me to undergo the same transformation as Uncle a few years earlier.

To make a short story no longer than I already have, by the end of the weekend, I came to realize that Uncle may be a tad crazier than I had previously thought and, despite the possibility of ultimately running with no shirt on (a running dream of mine) like the Uncle, began to question the health implications of a regimen based on his. Aside from running between three-quarters and a full marathon every other day, Uncle talked to me about his wearing of a weighted vest (of up to forty pounds) while using a Stairmaster and doing plank-like exercises and his strict diet of consuming only certain types of carbohydrates and proteins I had never heard of. While there are some who think my two-a-day runs speak to a mental imbalance, I have a feeling that they would shy away from such opinions were they to hear of Uncle's exploits.

There are those, like T,H,E K,I,D and CVSW, who like running. Then, there are those, like myself, who love running to the point of probably being addicted to some extent. And then, there are those, like Uncle, who have taken running to an all new level. Pushing himself beyond all possible limits, Uncle has that rare ability to run fast and run far. And, while I am by no means criticizing what he does and how he does it, I think I'll just stick with what I have been doing.

Extra, Extra, Run All About It!! The Week in Running: 6/28-7/05

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

* As reported on Fitsugar.com on July 2nd, celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak has been putting actress Jordana Brewster through grueling treadmill workouts despite her knee injury which prevents her from actually running. Devising a workout that provides similar benefits to running, Pasternak has Brewster, "Putting the treadmill at an incline of 12...and climbing for 30 to 40 minutes" three times a week. Pasternak's Fast And Furious (Brewster starred in said movie) workout routine has proven successful for Alicia Keys, Eva Mendes and Halle Berry, and Brewster hopes to garner the same results (both in terms of fitness and Hollywood celebroty status!).

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Next Weekend's Marathons

Saturday, July 11th
Grandfather Mountain Marathon (Boone, NC)
Half Voyageur Trail Marathon (Carlton, MN)
Leadville Trail Marathon (Leadville, CO)

Sunday, July 12th
Missoula Marathon (Missoula, MT)

Monday, July 13th
Adventurecorps Badwater Ultra Marathon (Badwater, CA)

Running To Russia In Plain Sight

For the second time in the past year, Runners World has left me in an agitated state of confusion. First, I came across an interview they did with Mario Lopez about the part running plays in his life. Based on Lopez's past performance in the 2002 Boston Marathon, I couldn't imagine what advice he could impart to runners other than how to run a shockingly slow marathon. Now, Runners World has turned its attention to failed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and, in their upcoming August issue, interviewed her about running and its influence on the rest of her life. At first I was worried that Palin was going to claim that she was a good runner because, as governor, she knew how to run a state. Luckily, however, I found out that Palin was indeed an avid runner and, unlike everything she said on the campaign trail, actually knew what she was talking about when speaking of running.

While I find it difficult to take any sort of advice from someone who claims to have sufficient foreign policy credentials based solely on the fact that Russia can be seen from the shores of Alaska, there were some interesting tidbits of information that came from Palin's interview.

* When asked if she could beat Mr. President Barack Obama in a running race (as opposed to a presidential one, which she's already lost to him), Palin showed no hesitation in replying that she would beat President Obama, "If [it] were a long race that required a lot of endurance I'd win...I betcha I'd have more endurance...If you ever talk to my old coaches they'd tell you, too. What I lacked in physical strength or skill I made up for in determination and endurance".

* Palin said that she was able to fit in some runs during the presidential campaign and during one notable run on John McCain's ranch, she injured herself when she fell down a hill, "“I was so stinkin’ embarrassed that a golf cart full of secret service guys had to pull up beside me. My hands just got torn up, and I was dripping blood. In the debate, you could see a big ugly Band-Aid on my right hand".

* Palin, who prefers running alone because "It's the only time I really am
alone, so it's a precious time," like to begin her runs listening to AC/DC and Van Halen. She then turns to country music and finishes up with "a couple mellow Amy Grant songs".

* Palin named her son, Track, as an ode to running.

Palin discusses a bunch of other running-related topics as well, but nothing too noteworthy. While my gut instinct, as a runner, was to view Palin in a much better light than I had before I read this article, my gut instinct, as an American, still overwhelms the runner in me. For, while Palin has certainly proved herself a worthy runner, she never convinced me she had what it took to be a vice president and to lead this country. Thankfully, there was one run she was not able to complete successfully....the run to the White House!

Running Over Excusable Obstacles

In a recent post, I laid bare the lame excuses people think up to justify why they don't go to gyms. Among the lamest were 'I wouldn't know what to do when I got there," "The gym staff is rude and unfriendly," "I am too out of shape to go to the gym." Generally speaking, I am loathe to excuse those who rationalize why they don't workout and rarely, if ever, do I not question that particular person's sincerity. That was all well and good until yesterday when I heard two excuses that completely silenced me. So convincing were these excuses that, had I been in the same circumstances, I wouldn't be surprised to hear these very same excuses escaping from my mouth. However, unlike those people whom I wrote about in that past post who, after reasoning why not to go to a gym, simply did not work out at all, this new group have people have simply changed their workout routines. Rather the excuse ending all conversation of exercise, these people have simply found an alternative method thereby viewing their excuse as an obstacle to be overcome.

Who am I talking about? The Iraqis, dear readers, the Iraqis!

In his article, Iraqi Exercise Craze Pumps Up Home Fitness Business, Mike Tharp discusses the increasing trend of Iraqis electing to set up home gyms rather than venture out to any number of commercial gyms that have opened in the last year in Baghdad. However, instead of being afraid of the gym staff or the gym itself, the Iraqis have been home gym-ing themselves for fear of police checkpoints and the possibility of car bombs. While I don't speak for anybody but myself, I have to say that those are two pretty solid excuses. In fact, I don't think a better excuse can be made up. Though the situation in Iraq appears to be getting better and better with each new day, as Tharp points out, "Despite the dramatic drop-off in violence, Iraqis keep a wary eye on security, and some don't want to make any unnecessary trips. And no matter what the incident numbers say, you still don't see joggers and walkers along the banks of the Tigris River as you did for a few months after the 2003 invasion".

But the potential for violence (and even death) has not deterred the Iraqis from exercising altogether. Since they couldn't go to the gyms, the Iraqis brought the gyms to they. In the last year, people like Zahir Khalaf, who runs his own sports gear shop on Rasheed Street in the oldest section of Baghdad, has seen sales nearly double in the past year as more and more Iraqis are purchasing gym equipment for home use. And what's the most popular machine? Try a $120 Chinese-made treadmill or an $80 portable sauna. While China is not known for the manufacturing of gym equipment, Iraqi sports equipment stores are full of various Chinese made gym products because, as Murtada Kathum, a 21-year-old sports store owners noted, " Chinese gear is available, reliable and cheap. They export to everybody".

I can't believe I am saying this but the Iraqis exemplify the attitude that all of us should have when it comes to exercise. Instead of simply giving up when the path to the gym is blocked, the Iraqis found another route. They did not let police checkpoints and car bombs rattle their motivation and their pursuit of health. They stood up to their obstacles and said, "You are not blocking my path today!!" (though they probably said this in Arabic). And while I cannot speak to the quality of the gym equipment the Iraqis are using, I can certainly applaud the quality of their perseverance in the face of those who get in their way.