Healthy happy you.
If you're a runner, you're probably familiar with runner's high. You know — that energetic, overwhelmingly awesome feeling you experience after a workout that makes you feel like the happiest person alive. The feel-good sensations come when endorphins are released from your brain, and new research shows that a runner's high mimics the same sense of euphoria as drug use. So scientists at Tufts Read more
Chalk this up as another reason to exercise, German scientists recently proved that "runner's high" is real. Recent advances in brain scan technology allowed researchers to map runners' brains before and after a two hour run. The post run scan showed increased endorphins, the natural feel good drug for the brain, in the areas of the brain that are active during extremely positive emotions - like Read more
After learning Ashtanga Yoga's Sun Salutation A, it's time to learn the poses in Sun Salutation B. It begins with a pose called Fierce, which may look easy but is a killer move for your thighs and glutes when done correctly. It also strengthens your core and stretches your calves, so it's an essential move for runners and high-heel wearers alike. Sanskrit Name: Utkatasana English Translation: Read more
In the midst of all your margarita- or mint julep-fueled celebrating this weekend, here's a reminder to pull on your running sneakers and go for a jog: a new study has found that regular jogging can help you live longer. The study compared joggers and nonjoggers as part of a larger Danish study that's been tracking 20,000 people for over 30 years. Researchers compared about 2,000 joggers from Read more
You want to love running, you do, but every time you head out for a run, you end up hating it even more. Check out some of the most common complaints below, and find out how you can turn your relationship with running around for the better. "My Knee, My Back, My Feet — Everything Hurts" Pounding the pavement is not easy on the body, and one reason for aches and pains is poor running form. Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here. By Bonnie D. Ford At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Read more
Many a runner has been sidelined by knee pain caused by the iliotibial band (aka the ITB). But knowing how to deal with this long band of fascia, which runs down the outside of the thigh from the pelvis to just below the shin, can help keep an injury at bay. Knowledge is power, and we want to help keep you on the road. First off, fascia is a stiff connective tissue (like tendons and ligaments) Read more
Running the Boston Marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, but due to unusually hot weather, Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) officials are encouraging less-experienced runners to defer entry until next year or go at a much slower pace during tomorrow's marathon; temperatures are expected to reach the high 80s. "The weather situation continues to be a significant concern for Read more
Exercise boosts your mood, but not everyone has experienced the runner's high, that feel-good rush many exercise fans swear by. New research has found, however, that we are all naturally wired to experience a runner's high when we exercise. Researchers found that unlike other animals, humans have evolved to experience an overload of a release of pleasurable chemicals in the brain, called Read more
If warmer temps and sunny skies inspire you to hit the woods for your first Spring trail run, there are definitely some obvious dangers to avoid, like bears. You wouldn't think of it, but leaves can also be hazardous, and here's how. Wet leaves: When snow melts and Spring rains pour down, you're looking at dangerously wet and muddy trails. The top layer of leaves can appear dry, but Read more
