Using Treadmill As Training Tool

Unless you live somewhere that is really sunny and warm all of the time, a treadmill will often come in handy for training in the off-season.

I'm not really wild about treadmills myself, but they work in a pinch. If there is ice and snow on the ground where you live and wind chills are well below freezing, then you need to meet a new training partner.

Check out Matt Russ' post from USA Triathlon on how to best use a treadmill for the winter months. He offers some suggestions about considerations for size and features if you're looking to purchase your own. He also shares some important details about effective workouts on the treadmill.

Whether you're using at home or at your favorite health club, the treadmill can keep you up-to-date while the elements aren't so friendly outdoors where you live.

Advanced Yoga

Interested in doing some more advanced yoga?

Sometimes I find doing yoga moves on my own very relaxing. Try some of these moves from Mandy Ingber on www.thatsfit.com. A word of warning - these moves are not for the faint of heart. They are definitely more advanced than what you might be used.

How do you know if you can do it or not unless you try?

Move Your Feet Before You Eat

I meant to post this during the holiday season, but forgot.

The point of this article from www.sparkpeople.com applies whether it's the holidays or not - before you eat, move your feet. Allow me to explain.

Using this theme prior to eating helps you focus on a future physical activity you can undertake to eliminate the calories you are consuming.

Weight loss is heavily dependent upon what you consume, but it is also heavily dependent on the activity you undertake to burn off what you consume. The article also shares ideas for activities you can take up to burn calories.

Take a look and next time you're moving in for a meal, take a moment to think - "move your feet before you eat".

Benefits Of Sleep, Recovery

If you're seeking that excuse to "sleep in" for an upcoming workout, I have it right here.

Check out the EverymanTri.com blog to see how sleep and recovery are just as important to the way we break down our bodies when we train.

I'm not promoting the concept of missing workouts. However, this entry is worth reading to understand the value of "recovery".

How To Deal With Numb Toes

Given it's January in Iowa, I thought this topic was appropriate.

However, there are numerous other causes for toe numbness riding your bike. It happens to many people. The root cause can be tight shoes, a strap pulled too tight or even a clip not fitting properly.

Take a look Gale Bernhardt's post to see what you can do to deal with numb toes while on your bike.

Was It That Bad?

Haile Gebrselassie recently returned to racing following a retirement announcement after pulling out of last year's New York City Marathon.

There's probably a lesson here for all of us...don't be too eager to call it quits after a bad race.

If you don't recall, Gebrselassie had a very bad race at the New York Marathon when he pulled out of the race at mile 16 due to tendinitis in his knee. Shortly after pulling out of the race the world record holder announced his retirement from the sport to a shocked world of distance runners.

Well, that decision was reversed less than 10 days later. The point of all of this for we aspiring world record holders . . . no race is ever THAT bad.

Holiday Weight-Saving Ideas

Need to take off a few pounds from the holidays?

I thought this idea from the Run To The Finish Blog made sense. Post your ideas at the end of my post to share with others on how the beat the pounds you may have gained over the holiday season.

This Run To The Finish blog offered the opportunity to post tips on how to avoid gaining weight during the holidays, but I think the same approach works for "post-holiday" weight loss strategies.

Good luck and share your ideas with all of the readers here.

Should You Run When You're Sick?

Chances are you will be sick at some point this winter.

The burning question then becomes - should you follow through with a run. I can tell you from experience that it's generally better to avoid a run if you're feeling ill. Missing a couple of runs - even if you're training for a big event - will not negatively impact your training in a major way.

Check out this blog post from Christine Luff at www.about.com. She lists some common wisdom to follow if you're faced with this situation.

This post includes some links to other related articles with additional good advice on topics like "avoiding germs" and winter illness considerations.

Thinking Of Running?

It is the beginning of a new year. Are you thinking of running this year?

If you are, read this post from Journeys of a Runner - Runner Training blog. This post gives you some advice on what to consider if you're going to start running.

Give this a read before you start running and you might enjoy it more. Additionally, you might stay committed to a program longer.

The Streak

I found the story of Mark Covert motivating.

Covert likes to run. He ran yesterday, he ran today and will probably run tomorrow if he's alive. In fact, he's known as the "Cal Ripken of 'streaking'". Not the sort of streaking of which you may be thinking.

Covert has run every day since July 23, 1968. During that time, he's logged over 145,000 miles - enough to circle the earth six times. That's a lot of running.

Steve Tuttle recently profiled Covert's streak in Newsweek. Read why Covert's streak is pretty special.

Surgery To Relieve Asthma

If you're an asthma sufferer, or you live with one, this is for you.

Melinda Beck recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a new asthma treatment called "bronchial thermoplasty". The article highlights how the surgery has helped one patient by permanently opening constricted airways.

My son, Jay, is one of the 22 million Americans who suffers from asthma. He maintains a very athletic lifestyle, but it still holds him back at times. It's always pained me to see people hurt from asthma, particularly when it affects more active folks. Imagine not being able to breathe!

Hopefully, this treatment will be helpful to many of those with asthma.

Teaching To "Back Up" In Baseball

It's winter time, so why not talk a little baseball.

Take a look at some helpful advice posted in this Baseball and Coaching Drills blog. The post discusses doing drills in lines of three where the secondary players in line for the drill help back up the primary player in the drill.

This helps show young players the need for backing up your teammates. As we all know, this is so important in baseball. It's particularly important to teach as kids often seem to think when they've accomplished their role in the play, their work is done. "The play" in baseball is never done.

Shoulder Exercises For Swimmers

Having recently suffered from shoulder soreness, I thought I might pass along a link to articles for some helpful shoulder exercises.

Every now and then, swimming will get the best of my left shoulder and I need to give it a rest. However, rest, shoulder muscle-specific stretching and exercising is usually a good method toward recovery.

Check out these articles on shoulder exercises for swimmers from www.active.com. They may help you get healed from injury and gain better form in the process.

How About Some Home Remedies?

Read Janice Lloyd's recent article from USA Today about a variety of home remedies you can use.

Lloyd recants some of the antidotes suggested in a new book Mayo Clinic Home Remedies. The book lists a variety of simple treatments for over 100 common conditions.

Sometimes it makes sense to reach for a more natural remedy then run to the doctor or grab the nearest bottle of pills. This book tells why.