FitSugar

Fit For June: Must Haves

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:47:29 PDT

June is here - can you smell Summer in the air? We can, which is why our must haves this month are sure to inspire you to get up, get out, and go! Whether it's biking, running, or hanging 10, here's what we're using to stay safe and active in the sun this year.

Congrats to Boston Marathon Winners!

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:08:09 PDT

The course of the Boston Marathon is full of ups and downs (literally and figuratively) - they don't call the long climb around the 20-mile mark "Heartbreak Hill" for nothing. Today's race was fast (read: record breaking fast) and with a few exciting upsets to boot. Crossing the finish first in the women's race was Caroline Kilel (age 30) of Kenya with a time of 2:22:36. Fast on her heels was the 27-year-old American runner Desiree Davila of Michigan, who crossed the line two seconds behind the winner. The third-place finisher Sharon Cherop, also of Kenya and also 27 years old, completed the course in 2:22:42. Competing in her first marathon since giving birth to her son, Colt, back in September, American Kara Goucher came in fifth place with a time of 2:24:52. Congrats to all the runners - elites and the rest of the pack.

Learn the winner of the men's race when you read more.

Words That Move You . . .

Susi May — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:00:43 PDT

In honor of the the seventh annual Nike Women's Marathon, which hits the streets of San Francisco this Sunday, Oct. 17., I bring you this advice from a Nike-sponsored marathoner.

"Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running."
- Kara Goucher

Running in the Family Way: Pregnant Marathoners Unite

FitSugar — Wed, 12 May 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Two elite runners were absent from recent marthons. We knew Kara Goucher was skipping the Boston Marathon in hopes of getting pregnant (but hadn't heard word before that big race) and then mommy marathoner Paula Radcliffe skipped her hometown marathon after announcing she was pregnant with her second child.

We have since learned that these two Nike-sponsored athletes have been training together, and that both marathoners have known since January that they're pregnant. Kara Goucher announced, right before Mother's Day, that she's expecting a baby boy with a due date of Sept. 29, which she coincidentally shares with Radcliffe. The two marathoners have been training together in Portland, OR, near Nike headquarters and have forged a friendship. Although Radcliffe told the New York Times that she doesn't see herself as a "mommy mentor," she has offered Kara some sound advice; namely to listen to her body and stop when she feels a twinge, and to forgo timing hill repeats.

These two are fierce competitors and both are aiming to run (and win the gold) at the London Olympics in 2012. But these two runners have forged a sweet friendship while logging mileage side by side. Radcliffe said, "When both of us stand on the start line and the gun goes off, we both want to win that race. But there’s room for a really good friendship at the same time."

Congrats to both Kara and Paula. I wonder who will reach the delivery finish line first?

When You're a Pro, What Does Time Off Mean?

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:49 PDT

Runner Kara Goucher made her marathon debut a year ago in the Big Apple, but she's skipping the New York Marathon this year. At the Nike Running Summit, she explained she wasn't planning on racing again until Boston because she's doing some planning of a different nature - family planning.

When you're an elite runner, skipping an event doesn't go unnoticed, making it difficult to keep it a secret that you're trying to get pregnant. Kara explained to me in a short but sweet interview that she's "taking a few months off to see what happens in her personal life."

But what does "time off" mean after running 120 miles a week? For Kara it means only running 30 miles a week, a number I would love to have as my hard-core weekly mileage. Although she does admit to getting a little softer now that she's only running a quarter of what she's used to, Kara's relationship with food hasn't changed, since she has always been "a healthy eater." Body fat is an issue for runners, but her attitude is pretty simple: "It is just weight and it will come off." Which is great since this runner, a proclaimed "queen of the 30-minute meal," is spending her newly found free time cooking, mostly Italian, and making sauces from scratch.

To see how Kara answered when I asked her if she could be an elite athlete in another sport, what would it be, just

read more. She admitted that this was a tough question, but that she has always leaned toward tennis. Kara finds the combination of individual strength and one-on-one competition quite compelling. Then there's the fashion side of things: "They wear cool outfits." Kara's long-term goal: racing in the London Olympics in 2012 and bringing home the gold. Go Kara!

Speak Up: What's Your Workout Mantra?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:00:00 PDT

It is often said that running is 90 percent mental, but I wouldn't limit that ratio to running. For me, a large part on any workout is mental. I could always just hop off the elliptical and head toward the sauna, so I have a lot of convincing to do. Having a workout mantra is a great way to keep your mind on task while exercising, and if a phrase is too long you can always try a word.

Marathoner Kara Goucher told me that when she's competing, she uses power words that are distilled from the phrases she mentally repeats during practice. When competing on a track, her word is "fighter" to remind herself to fight until the end and to be a little scrappy if need be. When racing 26.2 miles, her word is "courage." It takes courage to keep going for the long haul.

What do you tell yourself to keep on keeping on during your workouts? Do you have a phrase, a mantra, a power word? I know for some folks, a certain song can help them hang on when the going gets tough. Tell me what works for you in the comments section below.

Source

Exercising Outside? Don't Forget the Sunscreen

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 PDT

While the weather might not seem balmy, the warmer temps of Spring do allow most of us to work out in the great outdoors. Damaging sun rays accompany the warming sunshine, so I am here to remind you to not skip the sunscreen. Even when it is cloudy (in SF we can just say foggy), damaging rays make it to the earth's surface and your skin. When preparing to exercise outside, you should put a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face and an ounce (or handful) on your body. Apply your sun protection a half hour before heading out to bike, run, play tennis or soccer, stroll, or roller blade.

Marthoner Kara Goucher spends a lot of time in the sun logging miles, and she trains at altitude as well. Since runners seem prone to skin cancer - marathoner Deena Kastor has had many malignant spots removed - I asked Kara about her choice of sunscreen. It turns out that she and her running husband, Adam, are Coppertone people. They apply the spray before training in the mountains. Kara says that it is easy to apply, has an "I'm going outside today scent," and it doesn't get her eyes unless she is super sweaty. Do you have sporty sunscreen to recommend? Tell me in the comments section below.

Source

Kara Goucher: Heartbroken but Happy and Ready For 2012

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:00:00 PDT

I had the pleasure of speaking with marathoner Kara Goucher, 30, yesterday, and she is one sweet runner. Kara placed third in the Boston Marathon on Monday, coming in just nine seconds behind the winner. Her frustration was visible as she crossed the finish line. When I asked her which part of her body hurt most the day after the marathon, Kara said, "Honestly, still my heart just hurts the most."

Although heartbroken, Kara explained that her body didn't feel that beat up from the race - explaining that this race was like an easy 20 miles followed by a really hard 10k - so just her hip flexors felt tight from the running downhill. Her disappointment with not winning combined with a lack of aches and pains led her to consider running the London Marathon next week. She wanted to put the tactical lessons learned in Boston to work immediately, but ultimately decided racing a marathon again that soon wouldn't help with her long-range goal: competing in the 2012 London Olympic marathon to win.

To learn Kara's favorite Pilates exercise, the last movie she saw in a theater, and what she did after finishing the marathon,

read more. Kara switched coaches about three years ago and began working with former marathon star Alberto Salazar, and with this change came regular cross training. Salazar, who also coaches her husband Adam Goucher, wanted the running couple to become better all-around athletes, and to do so, Kara started Pilates. Although she hates them while doing them, Kara loves the ab series of Pilates, including the 100s, as well as the back stretch saw off your toe. Her favorite core exercises: "I like plank and lunges. In the plank position lifting up one leg is good core work. I like basic stuff that you could do anywhere: in a hotel room, at the gym, on the sidewalk if you needed to." After running the Boston marathon, Kara went out to dinner with a group of family and friends. Although the party drank many bottles of wine, they are waiting to pop the champagne cork when either she or Adam wins. She admitted that it was nice to "act like normal people" for the evening, not having to worry if the food might upset her stomach and interfere with running or if she should be getting to bed. Speaking of "normal," I also asked Kara the last movie she saw in a theater. "I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button around New Year's, but I have no idea of what I saw before that," she told me. Kara is one busy runner. She trains hard, loves racing, and won't be giving up track events anytime soon. She and her husband have both publicly stated that they would like to start a family - just think how fast those little Gouchers could be. I for one am looking forward to seeing Kara run in London, be it next week or in three years! Source and Source

Boston Marathon: Kosgei Wins, Goucher Takes Third

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:30:00 PDT

It was a dramatic finish for the women running the Boston Marathon today, and the official results are in. Crossing the finish line first was Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei, with a time of 2:32:16. Congratulations to the champ! Just one second behind Kosgei was Dire Tune of Ethiopia, who collapsed soon after finishing the race and had to be carried out on a stretcher. I sincerely hope she is OK; stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile, third place went to one of my favorite runners, Kara Goucher, who had a time of 2:32:25. She was one of just two American women to finish in the top 10. Pretty amazing considering the Olympic middle-distance runner just started marathoning last Fall!

To see who won the men's marathon and the amount of prize money the winners receive,

read more. American Ryan Hall came in third as well, with a time of 2:09:40. He was a little over a minute behind Deriba Merga of Ethiopia (2:08:42) who won the marathon. Second place winner is Kenyan Daniel Rono with a time of 2:09:32. The prize money for men and women is the same and the winner takes home $150,000, while second place wins $75,000, and the third place purse is $40,000. Are you watching (or running) any marathons this year? . . . Oh, I'm sorry, can you repeat that? I missed your answer because I was too busy coveting these runners' quadriceps. Source

Mommy Marathoner Wins NYC Marathon Again!

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:00:00 PST

British mommy marathoner Paula Radcliffe did it again! She won the NYC Marathon for the third time. Radcliffe, whose daughter will be two years old in January, finished the race in 2:23:56 with the second place winner crossing the finish line almost two minutes later. That is what I call an impressive lead! Congrats Paula!

Paula wasn't the only runner we were rooting for here at FitSugar. To see how newlywed Ryan Reynolds fared in the race, just

read more. Ryan finished the marathon in under four hours with the respectable time of 3:50:22. Not bad for a first timer at all! Speaking of first timers, one of my favorite runners, Olympic middle distance runner Kara Goucher, made her marathon debut and came in third place! Her finishing time of 2:25:53 is the fastest finishing time for an American woman in the history of the New York City Marathon. Goucher is definitely a runner to watch. Reading about other people running always makes me want to hit the asphalt, but I am not sure I want to run 26.2 miles like these folks. Tell me, how do you feel about running a marathon? Spource and Source