FitSugar

ACTivism: One World Running

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Running shoes are not cheap no matter who you are, but for some people they're simply unattainable.

Donate new, gently worn sneakers, and worn sneakers to One World Running - an international nonprofit program promoting an awareness of health, fitness, and nutrition by providing running shoes to those in need in the United States and around the world. They will take your new or gently worn sneakers and send them overseas to someone who needs them. The shoes that are a little more loved (aka beat up and not suitable for shipment) are sent to Nike to be ground up and made into running tracks and playgrounds through the Reuse-a-Shoe program.

Regardless, you know your shoes will be in good hands, and feet. Send all your sneakers to:
One World Running
958 Cherry Vale Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303

Source

Prevent Shin Splints With Toe Lifts

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:05 -0800

Since the weather is getting chillier, many of you might be moving your runs indoors. From my experience, switching running surfaces always takes some time to get used to, and shin splint pain has often been a symptom of adjustment. To prevent soreness in the front of your lower leg, here's an exercise recommended by Runner's World you can do any time you're sitting to strengthen your shins and increase flexibility.

The photo just demonstrates one exercise so to see a variation of the toe lift read more.

Sit tall in a chair with knees bent 90 degrees, and your feet flat on the floor.
Keep your right heel on the ground, and gently raise your right forefoot up. Lift it back toward your shin as far as you can, and then lower it back to the ground. Repeat 10 times with each foot.
Here's another variation. From the same position, lift your right forefoot up and trace the letter "J" in the air with your foot. Return it back to the ground. Complete 10 lifts with each foot.

On Our Radar: Nike 2010 Running Collection

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:01 -0700

The fitness world may not have a fashion week, but this weekend I previewed some of Nike's 2010 Spring running line, shoes and jackets, at the Nike Running Summit here in San Francisco. At the event, held the day before the 6th annual Nike Women's Marathon, designers explained their two inspiration behind their latest sneakers and running gear: runners and lightweight.

The first concept is fairly self explanatory - they design their gear to complement the motion of running and what runners need. Secondly, they pared everything down to shave off weight leaving the running feeling free and unencumbered.

To learn more about the shoes coming out early next year, keep reading.

Another Reason to Work Out With a Group

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:00:57 -0700

Exercising alone can be lonely, but it may actually feel more painful. New research found that when training together members of the Oxford crew team had higher pain thresholds. Misery loves company, even in the fitness world!

When paddling in a group, the rowers were able to tolerate twice as much pain than when rowing alone. I know rowing relies on intense synchrony, but there's no reason you can't tap into the group mentality during a group run or boot camp. I suggest scheduling at least one, if not more, group exercises weekly to help increase the intensity of your workouts. I know I bike farther and run faster when working out with my gal pals.

Jennifer Love Hewitt on the Shape of Things

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:30:46 -0700

Gracing October's cover of Shape magazine, Jennifer Love Hewitt looks amazingly toned and smiley in her frilly white bikini, but she has the same insecurities all women have about their bodies. She shares:

"For the most part, yeah, I'm happy with my body, but there are days when I'm like, 'Ugh! Really? Why is it so hard to fit into my jeans?' That's when I say to myself, 'I look this way because I'm supposed to. If we all looked the same, we'd be boring.'"

I think she looks fantastic, and she's shared her tips on how she keeps her body looking healthy and fit. To hear them read more.

When it comes to her diet, Jennifer grocery shops every two days. She says, "Instead of piling up food in my fridge that says 'Come eat me!' I keep enough for only a couple of days." She rarely keeps fattening treats around to avoid temptations from her late night cravings. She says, "What am I going to do? Drive out at 11 at night just to satisfy a craving? No, that's crazy." She also eats lunch. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but in her business, many women skip out in order to stay super skinny. She opts for healthy choices like a salad with every meal, and lots of fruits and veggies.

Exercise is also top on Jennifer's list. We know she plays tennis (even in heels!), and she also enjoys running, even when she's traveling. While visiting Monaco with boyfriend Jamie Kennedy, they ran 40 minutes every morning through the streets of Monte Carlo. It's a great way to explore new places and burn calories too.

Jennifer takes care of her inner self too. At night, she says five things she finds sexy about herself, and says, "I fall asleep feeling beautiful. Then in the morning, before I leave the house, I say five things I love about myself . . . That way I can go out into the world with that little bit of extra confidence."

Tell me in the comments section below one thing that you find sexy about yourself. Go ahead and share five things if you feel it!

Gear Up For the 2009 Nike+ Human Race

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:30:18 -0700

Last year, Nike hosted the world's largest running event - the first Nike+ Human Race had over 780,000 participants. It was such a hit, they're hosting another one on October 24, 2009, with the hope that this year it will be even bigger.

This race gives runners all over the globe the chance to run a 10K together on the same day. If you want to be part of it, there are two ways you can join. Either sign up for one of the runs hosted by Nike in more than 30 cities around the world. Or you can run a 10K wherever you choose - on a treadmill, in the woods, or by the beach. Just track your run with the Nike+ Sports Kit or the Sportband. Then upload your race data to nikeplus.com.

I did this race last year and it felt amazing to know that hundreds of thousands of people were running the 6.2 miles along with me, so I definitely plan on doing it again this year. If you're interested as well, register here, and then start training - you have about two months until race day.

Dealing With Rude People at the Gym

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:16 -0700

Working out is supposed to relieve stress and calm your nerves, but when I have to deal with rude people while trying to work out, it really aggravates me. If you find yourself putting up with inconsiderate and disrespectful fellow gym-goers, here is some advice from other FitSugar readers.

Syako says, "Usually I just ignore things that aggravate me or I find rude."
"People are quite often rude in my gym. Not to be rude per say, but just very self-involved with no consideration for others. Anyway, I use the opportunity to laugh in disbelief. The laughing puts me in a good mood." - michiny
StaceyP says to speak up for yourself. "I once had a woman jump in front of me to take a spot in a pool lane for which I had obviously been very patiently waiting for before she even walked through the door. As politely as I could, I stepped in and simply said that I had been waiting for it."
"My mother always said if people are in such a rush and rude, let them go." - TrnSmleShiftRpt
"I pity them. I feel sorry for people who have become adults and not yet learned how to treat other people with respect. I silently thank my parents for raising me with some sense that what I want isn't always the most important thing in the world. I take a deep breath and feel grateful for having a happy, full life, filled with people who love me; that getting the first bike in the class isn't the best thing that happened to me all day." - Vsugar

To see the other suggestions read more.

If there are rude people at the gym, one anonymous reader just exercises harder and says, "It is amazing how hard I can work out when I'm miffed."
Candace Foxx uses a little sarcasm when it comes to rude people. When a couple started using the piece of equipment she was about to use, she says, "I just stood there and stared. Then, after they were finished, the guy was like, 'Oh, were you using that?' I said, 'No, I just brought the bench clear across the room for you guys to use it.'"
You could always complain to the people who run the gym, suggests tlsgirl.
Even though you may not be able to make others be more polite, you can choose not to be rude yourself. NikkiRuby shares, "I have a tattoo that covers my entire back. One day I was running on the treadmill and mid run I had an older woman come up to me, stopped me from running and said, 'I don't understand why such a pretty girl would get such an ugly tattoo.' I could not believe it! . . . I just simply responded with, 'You don't have to be rude.' If she wants to live her life putting her negative energy on others that is her choice. I just can't be that cruel."

Must Catch Sports News

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:05:11 -0700

Remember watching Usain Bolt coast to the finish line and still win the gold medal in the 100 meter race in Beijing last Summer? Did you wonder how fast he really can run?

Well, he raced this weekend and answered the question. This time he didn't let off the gas until he crossed the finish line and broke the world record. Bolt, who seems so aptly named, ran the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, breaking his previous record set at the Olympics of 9.69 seconds.

Moving from the track to the golf green, learn about Tiger Woods when you read more.

Tiger Woods is golf's superstar. Although Tiger has been 14 for 14 in the majors, he lost to Y.E. Yang yesterday at the PGA Championships. Woods was ahead going into the final round, but was one stroke behind Yang when the underdog sunk a putt on the 18th green. Waiting for Woods to putt, Yang told reporters that he was thinking, "Tiger, miss the chip-in please." And Tiger did. About Sunday's match Woods said, "Y.E. hit it great all day. It was a fun battle." Many of the sports headlines on the tournament made comments that Tiger Woods is human after all, but it's great to see that he's also a gracious loser.

Interval Tip: Sleep Through Your Recovery

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:50:03 -0700

There are at least six compelling reasons to add intervals to your workout, but don't go skimpy on the recovery portion. It's very important to the whole process. Coach Jenny, over at Runner's World, likens the recovery period of intervals to sleep. You need sleep to repair your body and rest up for the next day, and you need a chill-out period for your body after pushing it through an intense interval so you can push yourself through another one.

Jenny explains it like this:

. . . the payoff comes when you invest in a proper recovery and run at the target fast pace (and not any faster), your body will adapt and you'll soon be capable of not only running faster with less effort, but the time it takes to recover will decrease as well.

When beginning interval training, use the recovery period to allow your heart rate, circulation, and breathing time to recover so you can attack the upcoming intervals with the same energy. If this means you need to walk between sets, that is fine. But as you repeat your interval training, you will notice that you don't need to run as slowly to recover, nor do you need the same amount of time. Just remember, this change doesn't happen overnight - it's a process.

Is There Such a Thing as a Running Addiction?

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Recently in an interview with Runner's World, hip-hop artist Eminem talked about running and admitted that:

"You kind of go from one addiction to the next. And I'm an addict. It was a little too much; it was a little extreme. It was a total of 17 miles [a day]." Running close to 20 miles is great if you're training for a marathon, but not something your body can handle every day.

Many people say they're "addicted to running," but usually this is a positive addiction, meaning it offers only benefits, such as stress relief and weight loss. There is such a thing as a negative addiction when it comes to running though, and it falls under the category of exercise addiction. You see there's a big difference between running complementing your life and running being your life.

To learn what the signs of a running addiction are read more.

If you're obsessed with running, and are compulsive about getting in a run regardless of other commitments, the weather, or injuries, then you could be considered an addict. You may also have an exercise addiction if you feel guilty when you don't run, or if you work out for a duration, intensity, and frequency that's beyond what's considered normal. Some addicts talk about nothing but running, and even skip out on work just to exercise.

There's nothing wrong with loving and needing to run, both for your physical and emotional well-being, but when running begins to have negative effects on your spirit and your body, then it's time to get some help. Talk to your doctor, a personal trainer, a therapist, or a fellow runner, if these signs sound familiar.

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