Items To Help Finish The Marathon

The Mission To A(nother) Marathon blog recently published the results of using some products that might help you finish your next race.

Of significant interest to me was the report on the use of a salt tablet product. I'm often asked about salt tablets and I'm not sure what to say as I have not tried them. However, I'm told by a variety of athletes that they can be helpful in particularly hot and humid weather. Check out this post and judge for yourself.

To find out more about the use of salt tablets, check out this post from World of Sports Science.

New Exercise Moves

Not sure about you, but I'm always on the watch for new exercise moves.

Anything that gets your body moving in different ways to reach muscles you sometimes miss is a good thing. You find yourself getting stronger the more you keep your body guessing.

I really like the "shape move of the week" feature found at www.thatsfit.com. Check out this series of moves that will help you enhance your workout routines.

Interesting Read About Physicians And Health

I'll bet you didn't know doctor tend to be more healthy than the rest of us.

It stands to reason as they are more educated about how we can be more healthy. The following article from Melinda Beck of the Wall Street Journal highlights how physicians as a group are leaner, fitter and live longer than average Americans. For example, male physicians keep their cholesterol and blood pressure lower.

The article also highlights how many studies show that doctors who exercise and watch their weight are more likely to counsel patients to do so and be more credible, too. However, there are some surprises, so check it out for yourself.

This just in - the folks at the Shut Up and Run blog are having a contest for a $40 gift certificate to a Colorado jeweler that features very cool runner wear. The drawing is July 1, so check it out soon at http://tinyurl.com/23p5scy.

Tips For Marathon Trip

As you prepare for your training to do a marathon this fall, the "Runner Dude" has some great advice.

Check out these tips he has for scoping out the location beforehand, landing deals and communicating with your family prior to the trip.

Trust me, if you're making your first trip to a marathon in a large city, this advice will help you. I really enjoy reading the Runner Dude Blog as he has some great content.

Triathlon Race Day Tips

We're at that point in the season where a variety of events are hitting the calendar.

If you've been training for a tri event, chances are one or more of your events are just around the corner. Use this advice from T. J. Murphy first published in Triathlete magazine, but was also posted on www.active.com.

It's great information about proper rest, breaking the course down, what you need to have with you and other helpful tidbits. Take a look a look at this post, particularly if you're preparing to compete in your first triathlon.

It's True - Encouragement Promotes Fitness

I've been preaching this all along, but now there's research backing it up.

According to an article written by Kevin Helliker in the Wall Street Journal, a recent Stanford University study shows that various forms of social encouragement help people achieve success in fitness.

Check this article out. The study reveals that individuals were more successful in their fitness efforts and reached longer-lasting gains when they received social prompts such as e-mails, phone calls or in-person reminders from friends or associates.

There is no doubt that you feel a greater sense of responsibility toward your fitness efforts when others are helping to keep you accountable.

Tips For Reaching Your Goals

We all have them - goals. And we want to achieve them.

Sometimes success in attaining our goals is elusive. We have professional goals that are fed to us all the time -- and they are important. Fitness and diet goals are particularly challenging at times. However, these goals are very important as well because they represent OUR personal goals.

Use these tips from Mike Kramer at www.sparkpeople.com to help keep you "on task" when you're working toward specific personal goals. His strategies make sense!

Effort Starts To Curb Youth Sports Injuries

A group of surgeons and professional athletes will work to help stop increasing youth sports injuries.

The effort is being led by noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews as he claims, "Youth sports injuries are reaching epidemic proportions." Former major league pitcher John Smoltz and quarterback Sam Bradford will be featured in public awareness efforts aimed toward curbing this problem among youth athletes.

Having just gone through the experience of a son requiring significant elbow surgery, I was pleased to read about this. This is a real epidemic that needs more attention in the public debate.

Read more about this important effort in this article authored by Robert A. Guth.

Triathlon Training With A Busy Schedule

I really get motivated reading about busy executives who successfully train for triathlons.

Having trained for several events myself, I know the dedication required to "go the distance". Check out this post from Phaedra Hise of the Wall Street Journal about Kim Nelson, a busy executive and mother who's successfully trained to compete in Ironman events.

As chief executive of a large packaging company in Toronto, Nelson's dedicated efforts offer plenty of inspiration.

Follow These Rules For Hydration

This is perhaps the best article I've seen outlining the importance of fuel and hydration during exercise.

Matt Fitzgerald writes in this www.active.com post why it's important and when it's important to hydrate and refuel in cycling training. While it makes sense for cycling, it applies to other athletic endeavors as well.

Any time you're getting sweaty and working out in warmer weather, hydration and fuel become even more important. Check out this post to learn more about how you can keep yourself ready to go.

Coaches, don't forget to make sure your players are taking plenty of water breaks this summer.

Another Tool For Healthy Eating

Here's a great tool for healthier eating.

I just discovered this site and it's very helpful. Try this site out to see if it can help you --

Check out the healthy recipes and strategies for eating that's better for you!

From Couch To 5K

If you're looking to get into a running routine, this plan is for you.

Brianne Sanchez of The Des Moines Register recently published an article about how to get from the couch to running a 5K race in nine weeks. This is a plan that most beginners can easily follow and achieve.

I really believe it helps to have a goal in mind when you start a program, so this approach helps. You can find a 5K in your area most weekends through the spring, summer and fall. So find that race, grab some friends and get ready to start your nine-week journey to race day!

Speeding Up

Many of us are recreational runners, but many of us are looking to boost up our speed a bit as well.

Jason R. Karp, Ph.D. contributed some great tips to the June issue of Runner's World in an article titled "Speed Dial". I could not find the article online, but you can check out this running coach's website for more information.

Using fartleks, you can add perhaps 10 of 90 to 120 second bursts of speed to your run in order to "spice" things up a bit. Try a ladder, where you run five minutes hard, followed by four minutes of recovery and reducing the period by one minute in each rep. Another fun exercise is running a series of hard 800s at 5k pace followed by an 800 at recovery pace.

Using these strategies will help prevent boredom and will add speed to your abilities. Make sure to have a good base of workouts under your belt before you get brave in trying these new exercises.

More Creative Exercise Ideas

As busy people, we're all seeking that "edge" to exercise better and more frequently. However, that becomes a challenge with the hectic lives we lead.

Kelly Roberson shared some great ideas in a recent article published in The Des Moines Register. Her article particularly offers ways to keep fit within some of your children's athletic activities.

Personally speaking, when I have coached my children, I always offered to lead the team in their warm-up drills. This provided an extra workout boost to my day - and it ALL helps!