Running A Marathon?

What do you get when you run a marathon?

For most people, a lot of sweat and sore muscles.  What about some of the positive aspects?  Ask Jeff Galloway as his blog reviews a variety of questions related to distance running.  His blog is a good read for distant runner philosophy.

Understanding Body Fat

Body fat is an interesting thing.  Ultimately, it means different things for different people. 

This post from the Run To The Finish blog spells out some of the details necessary to understanding body fat. As the post shows, there are many people who look different, but their weight is about the same.

How do you measure body fat?  How can you make yourself look different?  These are all questions the post explores.

Running Excuses

So we have rationalized MANY excuses for not running.

This post from the Run To The Finish blog "debunks" all of the most common excuses for not running.  This is a great post and offers great rationale about why you just "can't make excuses".

Hanson Half Marathon Plan

A new book is available if you're looking to target a time in finishing a half marathon.

Even if you're looking to "just finish", this book has an approach for you. The distance, strength and speed workouts of the more advanced plans will help you key in on a target finish time.

Check out this post from the How 2 Run Fast blog to learn more about a book that highlights this plan. 

Basics Of Recovery

When you do a heavy workout or event, your work is not done.

Your body needs certain things after utilizing all of that energy.  For example, you need glucose, protein and carbohydrates.  You need to reduce lactic acid build up.

Read this post from http://active.com from triathlete Ryan Turbyfill to learn basics to help your body recover after heavy fitness activity.

Preparing To Run

This transplant from Louisville talks about how to adapt to a cooler running climate in the Des Moines area.

This article from the Des Moines Register shows how to adapt to cooler weather, use resources like the Capital Striders Running Club and adopt good form.

Pain Reliever

Sometimes a good rubbing oil makes you feel better.

I used to be a big user of BioFreeze.  Thank the Lord Above I don't have as much pain as I used to and I don't have a need for those types of products as much. 

However, I did stumble across this product -- Deep Blue.  Take a look at it in the Happy Runner blog.  It might be just what the Doctor ordered.