rec.running articles
Updated October 6th
 

Philly Marathon:
Who out there in our forum plans to run 11/22. Wondering what the weather
>could should or will be like this late in the season. Any thoughts would be
>helpful. How is the course ?

Weather the last two years has been near perfect: 40s, overcast, light or no
wind. I've worn a singlet (gloves last year, I think) and started out both
times wearing a big garbage bag for the first mile until I warmed up.

Course is flat and fast; only one modest hill that bears mentioning (somewhere
near 10, I think, going into the park) and a few other short rises.

Only real problem is near absence of spectators. If you're self motivated,
Philly is a great qualifier for a fast time. If you enjoy hearing people cheer
you on, you will not be a happy camper. The last 12 miles are particularly
lonely; you pass by the finish at mile 14 and go 6 miles up the river to a
small town, turn around, and run back on the other side of the same road (Kelly
Drive, I think). Except for the town at the turnaround--where there are some
crowds--these last 12 miles are pretty quiet, albeit scenic.

Organization is very good (accurate mile markers, frequent water and sports
drinks, energy gel at about 18-20, plenty of volunteers, good post-finish tent
with food/drink/blankets), the expo the day before is excellent (big, and some
real deals in running gear), and the pasta party is quite good. And the
size--3,000 runners, I believe--makes for company at every stage of the race
without being too big. Overall, the only thing this race needs to make it
really great is a few tens of  thousands of spectators lining the course. I
think the lateness of the season and the cool weather put a clamp on things
because even the stretches through the city are pretty empty.

A small group from our Northern New Jersey club will probably be running it
this year so I hope the above description holds true again. I'll probably give
it a go.

Chip Bearden
 


Just in time for peak marathon training, the in-laws are coming.  I'm not
looking forward to hearing "running on those trails is dangerous", "running on
roads is suicidal", running a marathon is not good for you" etc. etc.
Normally on their visits I overcome this tirade but working extra hours (the
father in-law seems to like that) but thats not an option with the marathon 2
months away.

They fly 800 miles to visit and then watch TV or read the newspaper (before me
I might add !) for most of the visit.  Maybe while they are parked in front of
the TV I should start pounding down beers and acting real stupid.  That might
change their thinking - NOT.  Better yet, maybe I should disconnect the cable
TV hookup and cancel the paper.

During their last visit, I took my six year old out to the track with me.  My
hope being they would think what a good dad I was including my son in some of
my training activities.  When I returned, all I heard was "how dangerous it
was to be running around the track leaving THEIR grandson to play in the
center football field".  Explaining that he was in sight the entire time and I
was never more than a 100 yards away did no good. But there was a glimmer of
hope - my son proceeded to tell me that I run all wrong. "Dad, you run too
slow and should run fast like me."  Now he wants to be my coach everytime I
hit the track and that is GREAT.

' Just blowing off steam here but if any of you have ideas on how to handle
in-laws let me know.  Maybe I'll leave printed copies of the better
suggestions laying around the house for all to see.

Tim
tim@systec.com


Hi
I am 22 years old and suffer from a structural defect that goes by the scary
name of "spina bifida". It means that one of my vertebrae has an abnormal shape
that increases my risk of getting a backache. 10% of the population is supposed
to suffer from this.

As a result, my orthopaedist has told me not to jog. In fact he was of the
opinion that jogging is harmful for anyone's back, least of all those with
spina bifida. What are the opinions of experienced joggers on this? Accg to my
doctor, walking briskly and running are fine but jogging is a strict no-no.

Also, what are the energy range and conditioning effects of spot jogging -
jogging on one's toes at the same place?

Thanks. Sam.

--
Sameer Anand Siruguri   Graduate student, CS, Rice University
siruguri@cs.rice.edu   (No web page yet)
Res: (713)-630-9243   Off:(713)-527-8101 x2282
6500, S. Main, #332, Houston, TX 77030


Made for Trail Running Aficionados

Saturday, 03 October 1998, 10am
Camp Fortune, Old Chelsea, Quebec

The race starts at the Fortune Chalet and meanders gradually onto a
panoramic ridge overlooking the Valley before descending rugged single
track trails into mature forests, through exotic microclimates, around
ponds, an occasional deer, past refreshing waterfalls and over nearly
forgotten Algonquin pathways.

Embark upon a surreal multi-terrain experience; varying paradoxically from
exposed routes over alpine meadows, celestial climbs onto rocky outcrops
swept with clouds. Vistas offer spectacular views of fall colours, to
radical technical descents off the roots of the ancient Laurentian
mountains.

Finish back where you have started. Well marked and worn trails. COST $5
(Money will be used to support Amateur Sport).

http://magi.com/~vo2max/mtnrun.htm


I also find that if
> I take more that two or three swallows during my water stops  my stomach
> bloats and I get stitches.  I've tried limiting my water stops but I
> invariably blow up at the end of the run. I tried drinking water the
> night before,  an hour before, salt water,  and drinking Coca-Cola six
> hours before I run, but nothing seems to work.  Any ideas

The problem may not be that you aren't drinking enough, but rather that
you aren't absorbing what you do drink. Electrolytes will help you
absorb the water you do take in. I highly recommend that anyone who is
doing runs of 2 hours or more, particularly in hot weather, consider
some form of electrolyte replacement. As an ultra runner, I've had great
results with SUCCEED! caps, a buffered salt/potassium capsule taken
every hour or so depending on conditions. For complete information see
the website at:
http://www.fred.net/ultrunr/!caps.html
--
Anti-Spam Alert: If you wish to reply, cut the *BS*

Trails of The Diablo Valley
*Running - Hiking - Nature*
http://come.to/diablo-valley-trails


Is high school cross-country strenuous enough to stunt growth?

I read an article by Dr. Owen Anderson that dealt with cross-training
alternatives to running a few months ago in Runner's World.  In the
article, he said that your heart rate max while cycling will be about
10 beats lower than your heart rate max while running (which is the
"real max").  Although the purpose of the article was not to discuss
heart rate training, the justification for the lower "max" was due to
the fact that you don't have to exercise against your full weight,
since your on wheels.

Since that time, I recently read a book called "Training for Speed and
Endurance" written by a team of Australians that basically said the
same thing (the max is even lower for swimming).

My own heart rate monitor seems to confirm the information in these
articles.  I am 30 years old with a heart rate max of 210 (I know this
sounds high, but I was pretty scientific about measuring it on a
treadmill until I thought I was going to explode).  My resting pulse
rate is 52 and I weigh 155 lbs.

During hard interval sessions on a track running, I regularly get my
heart rate into the 200-205 range (sometimes a tad higher if it's an
all-out sprint).   During 5K races and tempo runs the range seems to
be between 180-195 depending on the terrain.

During hard Spinning (yes, the spin classes) sessions, the same
perceived effort for my track workouts, yields measurements in the
190-195 range.  The absolute highest I have ever acheived on a bike
(or spinner) is 199.

Does anybody else have anything to say about the cycling heart rate
max being lower than the running max?  At first, it seemed intuitively
wrong - a "max" is a "max."  The more I read and play with my Polar
monitor, the more I'm inclined to agree with the "experts".

Joe D.

Joe's Running Links
http://joedom.home.mindspring.com


If you have a confirmed Marine Corps Marathon slot but will not be
particpating...I am interested in purchasing it from you.  Please reply by
E-mail or call me at

(301) 570-6887

Thanks,
greg nelson


As far as I know, track events have always been run in a counterclockwise
direction. Does anyone know the reason, historical or otherwise ?

Terry R. McConnell   Mathematics/304B Carnegie/Syracuse, N.Y. 13244-1150
mcconnel@servtech.com                       http://barnyard.syr.edu/~tmc