A FREE WEEKLY E-ZINE OF MULTISPORT RELATED ARTICLES. The Runner's and
Triathlete's Web Digest is a weekly e-zine dealing with the
sports of running and triathlon and general fitness and health issues. The
opinions expressed in the articles referenced by the
Digest are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the Runner's
Web. Visit the Runner's Web at
http://www.runnersweb.com The site is updated multiple times daily. Check out
our daily news, features, polls, trivia, bulletin
boards and more. General questions should be posted to one of our forums
available from our FrontPage.

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS: All of the revenue from our advertisers and affiliates
goes to support clubs, athletes and clinics related
to multisport and Canadian Olympians.

1. Emilie's Run - The Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women - Canada's
Fastest Women's 5K
Emilie's Run is over for another year. Almost 300 women completed the race with
38 women running under 20:00
For more on the race visit the website at:
http://www.emiliesrun.com.
Join Emilie's Run Community and contribute at:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/emiliesrun?hl=en

3. Road Runner Sports, the world's largest running store at:
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000010069822.
New Arrivals from Nike With Web Exclusive Apparel and More!

4. Toronto Waterfront Marathon, September 28, 2008
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/

5. Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon - October 19, 2008
http://www.torontomarathon.com/

6. Training Peaks Training Peaks, LLC is dedicated to the endurance athlete and
coach. With our industry leading software products,
we're committed to help you monitor, analyze and plan your training. We
encourage you to draw on our passion for excellence to help
you reach your athletic dreams. Trusted by thousands. Dedicated to you.
http://www.trainingpeaks.com/

7. Running Free Running Free is a complete online running store with everything
for the casual to serious runner. They also have
retail stores in the GTA (Toronto) and Markham. Check them out at:
http://www.runningfree.com

8. January 4, 2008: Goodlife Fitness has come on board as a sponsor of Emilie's
Run GoodLife Fitness - Coed or Women's Only Visit
www.GoodLifeFitness.com today to receive 3 FREE Visits! Your 3 FREE visits
include: . A Visual Fitness Planner Consultation . Fit
Fix Orientation to learn how to exercise safely and effectively . Access to all
cardio and strength-training equipment . Access to
all of our world-class Group EXercise classes . A copy of Living the Good Life
audio CD Get started today! Visit
www.GoodLifeFitness.com Limited time offer.

9. Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand. World Championship Sports
Network ABOUT WCSN World Championship Sports Network
(WCSN) is the premier destination for fans of Olympic and lifestyle sports,
delivering an immersive experience via exclusive live
and on demand coverage of world class competitions, interaction with top
athletes and in depth access to sports news and information
year round. WCSN offers comprehensive coverage of over 60 sports disciplines,
through exclusive long term programming agreements
across a number of key International Federations and National Governing Bodies.
Major championship events in sports ranging from
Athletics (Track & Field), Skiing, Swimming, Gymnastics and Cycling to
Volleyball, Karate and Taekwondo are featured online at
http://tinyurl.com/ysnvnh and on television via WCSN's weekly syndicated
television program, World Championship Sports, available in
more than 45 million US households. WCSN also markets Olympic sports in
partnership with International Federations, National
Governing Bodies, local organizations, clubs, sponsors, and through related
websites and publications. WCSN is dedicated to
providing year round, in depth coverage of these important and exciting sports
to reach millions of fans around the world for whom
they represent a way of life. WCSN is committed to expanding the audience by
delivering programming that exemplifies the best of the
human spirit. WCSN enables fans to interact with world class champions as well
as get to know the up and coming athletes through
blogs, interviews and their broadcast commentary. Consistent with the world
class caliber of the sports it celebrates, WCSN delivers
high quality production values, leveraging state-of-the-art-technology and next
generation distribution platforms to provide an
immersive, interactive experience available anytime, anywhere.
Visit WCSN at: http://tinyurl.com/ysnvnh

10. Canadian Running Magazine: Subscribe at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/CanadianRunner.html

11. On August 5, 2008, uber ultra-runner Karl Meltzer will set off on the
biggest race of his life. His challenge: to run the entire
length of the 2,174-mile in less than 47 days.
Definitely daunting. Absolutely grueling. Probably insane. But when he does it,
he'll rule the AT as the guy who conquered it, all
of it, the fastest on two feet.
This is going to be Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Clock - and it's going
to be good. So, check back. As Karl's start date
draws near, this site will transform into mission control. With an interactive
map featuring real-time GPS tracking of his progress,
a blog, forums, videos, pictures and podcasts, whereskarl.com will be the place
to keep track of the Speed Goat as he ticks off the
miles on his way from Maine to Georgia. In the meantime, sign up for email
updates* on Karl's training and racing leading up to his
AT attack, feature additions to this site, and occasional discounts from
Backcountry.com and other sponsors
Check it out at:
http://whereskarl.com/?utm_source=runnersweb&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=ad1&u\
tm_campaign=whereskarl

12. Mi-Sport - The Ultimate Sports MP3 Player Introducing the world's first and
only waterproof and wireless sports mp3 player.
These Mi-SPORT mp3 headphones have a 1GB memory built into a cool neckband
design. At last no wire tangle and no earbuds to fall
out. The patented design makes this waterproof/sweatproof mp3 player great for
running, cycling and gym work. The player however is
more than splash proof! It can be completely submerged with no harm to it making
it perfect for swimming, kayaking, and water
skiing. Now incorporating the latest 3D music quality with it's adapted
waterproof speaker. Relax to music in the bath, or push out
that training session with no fear of losing your player or tangling the wires.
Circuit training is so much easier with your own
music. Enjoy the waves wire-free. This is the only waterproof pair of classic
headphones with a built in mp3 player in the world.
The stylish looking headphones play the usual MP3, WMA and WAV formats and are
compatible with Windows98/98SE/2000/XP and Apple MAC.
Depending on track length, the headphones hold well over 14 hours worth of music
and the rechargeable battery life is about 8 hours.
Nick Matthew, the 2006 British Open squash champion now uses the player to train
with and Mi-SPORT are endeavouring to encourage
more athletes to enjoy the benefits of training to wire-free music, podcasts or
coaching aids. Inspiration and freedom at last, for
athletes and exercise enthusiasts everywhere.
Check it out at: http://www.mi-sportmp3.com/

13. Labour Day Oakville Half-Marathon and 10/2K - Oakville, ON
http://www.oakvillehalfmarathon.com/

ASSOCIATIONS: The Runner's Web is a member of Running USA, The National
Professional Organization for the Running Industry.
http://www.runningusa.org/

NEW SUBSCRIBERS: Check the "New Subscribers' note at the bottom of the
newsletter

Check out our RSS auto-feeds page for automated news updates:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_auto_feeds.html

Webmasters: Get our Syndicated headlines for your site.
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_getRSS.html
Add the Runner's Web News feed to your site through a simple JavaScript. Check
out OnTri.com's implementation at:
http://www.ontri.com/runnersweb.html
The Runner's and Triathlete's Web Digest is now available
through an RSS feed for myYahoo at:
http://e.my.yahoo.com/config/cstore?.opt=content&.url=http%3a//rss.groups.yahoo.\
com/group/RunnersWeb/rss
[Long URL]
The Digest is also available through other RSS Readers on request.

Get the Runner's Web button for the Google Toolbar 4 for Internet Explorer from
the link on our FrontPage at:
http://www.runnersweb.com . We have added a button for Lauren Groves,
Triathlete.

If anyone is looking for a web mail provider, you might wish to consider
Google's GMail. You can now sign up for free Gmail at
Google WITHOUT AN INVITATION at: www.gmail.com

Race Directors: Advertise your event on the Runner's Web.
For more information:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_advertising.html
You can also list your events for free in our Interactive Calendars and on our
Marathons, Races and Triathlons pages.

NEW THIS WEEK:
We have added a new event calendar. It is available for event directors to add
events at:
http://runnersweb.mhsoftware.com/
Events must be approved before going live.

For the month of September, Footlocker.com will be offering 2 coupons. 20% off
$99. [Code LKS18PD2, valid 8/30-10/6]. Also, get Free
Shipping on $99 or more. [Code LKS18PF9, valid 8/30-10/6].
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=pgaZgw/VDU4&offerid=101680.10000260\
&type=3&subid=0

Puma - Save 20% off All Orders with Coupon Code BTS77 through 9/30/08
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000026582689&pubid=2100000000\
0028567

Free Shipping for all orders at ChampionUSA.com!
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=vVGS2V*0iZg&offerid=139837.10000169\
&type=3&subid=0

Watch live and webcast of Track and Field and Road races on Universal Sports
Sign up at:
http://www.universalsports.com//SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=13055\
&SPSID=105551

I've created a Runner's Web Group on Facebook. To join the Runner's Web Facebook
group, if you are not a member of Facebook, you
must first create a free Facebook account at www.facebook.com. Once you have
your own space, search "Runner's Web" under "Groups".
At the Runner's Web site, click "Join this group". Once I have approved your
request to join, you'll be able to visit the site, post
race photos, discuss training tips, and share information about running, racing
and training.

If you feel you have something to say (related to triathlon or running) that is
worthy of a Guest Column on the Runner's Web, email
us at:
mailto:webmaster@... or leave your comments in one of our Forums at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/forum.html or from our FrontPage.

We have 2,417 subscribers as of publication time. Forward the Runner's Web
Digest to a friend and suggest that they subscribe at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunnersWeb/join .

RUNNER'S AND TRIATHLETE'S WEB CONTENT PARTNERS

ROAD RUNNER SPORTS
We have partnered with Road Runner Sports, the world's largest online running
store, to provide a shopping portal. Check it out at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/Mobile_RRS.html

* BREAKSWEAT.TV
We have partnered with Breaksweat TV to provide us with video content.
Simply Sports Media is part of a large group called Simply Media, which operates
more than 25 digital TV channels, including 6 on
satellite and cable. Simply Media has developed and continues to expand on
premium content for TV, web, mobile, captive Audience
Networks, and IPTV.
Breaksweat.tv was recently launched to provide instant access to premium video
content covering outdoor sports. The innovative
online channel uses a system called, Brightcove to continually and seamlessly
deliver content to its users, whilst providing
easy-to-use navigation.
Breaksweat TV is not a user generated website, or a broadcasting channel; rather
it is a platform used to host Breaksweat.tv's
independently produced video content, and content it obtains from key
relationships in the outdoor sports industry. By applying this
strategy to supply content for its viewers, SnowZone.tv is able to showcase
video content that is unique, high-quality, and
continuous filled with updated material.
For more information and to visit other existing channels in the Simply Media
network, please visit:
http://www.simply.tv/

* Sports Nutrition by Sheila Kealey. Sheila is one of Ottawa's top multisport
athletes and a member of the OAC Racing Team and X-C
Ottawa. She has a Masters in Public Health and works in the field of nutritional
epidemiology as a Research Associate with the
University of California, San Diego. Her column index is available at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/SK_index.html

* Carmichael Training Systems Carmichael Training Systems was founded in 1999 by
Chris Carmichael. From the beginning, the mission
of the company has been to improve the lives of individuals we work with through
the application of proper and effective fitness and
competitive training techniques. Whether your focus is recreational, advanced,
or you are a professional racer, the coaching
methodology employed by CTS will make you a better athlete. Check the latest
monthly column from CTS at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/cts_columns.html.
Carmichael Training Systems at:
http://www.trainright.com/promos.asp?code=DSBYBFCSP

* Peak Performance Online Peak Performance is a subscription-only newsletter for
athletes, featuring the latest research from the
sports science world. We cover the whole range of sports, from running and
rowing to cycling and swimming, and each issue is packed
full of exclusive information for anyone who's serious about sport. It's
published 16 times a year, including four special reports,
by Electric Word plc. Peak Performance is not available in the shops - only our
subscribers are able to access the valuable
information we publish.
Check out our article archive from Peak Performance Online at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/PPO_index.html
Visit the PPO site at: Peak Performance Online:
http://www.pponline.co.uk/cmd.php?af=517509

* Peak Running Performance Peak Running Is The Nation's Most Advanced Running
Newsletter. Rated as the #1 Running Publication by
Road Runner Sports (Worlds Largest Running Store) , Peak Running caters to the
serious / dedicated runner. Delivering world class
running advice are some of running's most recognizable athletes including Dr.
Joe Vigil (US Olympic Coach), Scott Tinley (2 Time
Ironman Champ) Steve Scott (3 Time Olympian) and many more. This bi-monthly
newsletter has been around for over 13 years, and in the
past two it has been awarded the "Golden Shoe Award" in recognition of it's
outstanding achievements.
http://www.clixGalore.com/Sale.aspx?BID=37234&AfID=103794&AdID=5075&LP=www.peakr\
unningperformance.com
Check out the Peak Running article index at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/PRP_index.html .

* Running Research News: RRN's free, weekly, training update provides
subscribers with the most-current, practical, scientifically
based information about training, sports nutrition, injury prevention, and
injury rehabilitation. The purpose of this weekly e-zine
is to improve subscribers' training quality and to help them train in an
injury-free manner. Running Research News also publishes a
complete, 12-page, electronic newsletter 10 times a year (one-year subscriptions
are $35); to learn more about Running Research
News, please see the Online Article Index and "About Running Research News"
sections below or go to RRNews.com. Check out the
article index at: http://www.runnersweb.com/running/RRN_index.html

THIS WEEK'S PERSONAL POSTINGS/RELEASES: We will only post notes here regarding
running and triathlon topics of interest to the
community. We have ONE personal posting this week.
ONE:
Hi guys, I've recently found an awesome way of attaching my gel packs to my Tri
bike so as they're ready for the bike leg. It's a
gadget called the Gel Ladder. Its been working
really well for me during races and training and as the website says, its more
aero than the Bento and more convenient than tape.
Check out www.GelLadder.com for more
info and pictures.
Happy training! Savannah


THIS WEEK'S DIGEST ARTICLE INDEX:

1. Marathon Training: At War With Injuries
2. Bob Kennedy on the Mindset Needed for Breakthrough Performances
An interview with the American record holder and first non-African to break
13:00 for 5K.
3. Anabolic steroid use enhances powerlift athletes for years
4. No more bonking - Eat, drink and your run will be merry.
5. Why Old Athletes Come Back
6. Brain study shows some animals crave exercise
7. How Powerful Is Your Workout?
8. Enduring Questions - Why Do We Suffer?
Running can hurt. This is one runner's quest to understand the bittersweet
symphony.
9. Weak Bladders Deter Many Young Women From Sports Participation
10. Glucosamine and chondroitin don't slow arthritis
11. Does Exercise Really Keep Us Healthy?
12. VAK Training Helps You Reach Your Goals
13. During Exercise, The Human Brain Shifts Into High Gear On 'Alternative
Energy'
14. Aqua Jogging
15. VO2max Newsletter by Dr. Jason Karp
16. Building Better Bodies
17. Bottle Drama
Due to recent warnings, many runners are wondering if our plastic water bottles
belong in the recycling bin.
18. How Elliptical Exercise Machines Improve Cardiovascular Health
19. Warning Labels for Caffeinated Energy Drinks
20. Digest Briefs

RUNNER'S WEB WEEKLY POLL:
"Which type of running shoe(s) do you wear for training?"


You can access the poll from our FrontPage ( http://www.runnersweb.com) as well
as checking the results of previous polls.

LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULTS:
"How will Lance Armstrong place in the 2009 Tour de France?"
Answers Percentage
1. 1st 25%
2. Top 3 4%
3. Top 10 17%
4. In the peloton 21%
5. DNF 21%
6. Don't care 13%



FIVE STAR SITE OF THE MONTH: Boulder Coaching.
"We want to be your triathlon and running coach"
You're a Triathlete who knows that you can improve your swimming, biking and
running performance.
You've started running, but you need direction.
You may not be going to the next Olympics, but you want to train with the best.
Think Boulder Coaching
The company's owner, Simon Lessing, is a five-time Triathlon World Champion. His
Partner, Darren de Reuck, a running trainer, is
helping many long-distance runners reach a higher level of performance.
Reach New Heights in Triathlon and Running Competition
You may want frequent access to the Boulder Coaches. Or you may only want to tap
their accomplishments, their knowledge of all of
the triathlon distances, Marathon, half marathon and other competitive sporting
events.
Explore our various virtual training online packages. Drop us an email
(mailto:triathlon@...) or give us a call.
Let's talk.
Visit the site at:
http://www.bouldercoaching.com/


PHOTO SLIDESHOW:
Our Photo Slideshow is updated on a random basis. Check it out from our
FrontPage.

BOOK/VIDEO/MOVIE OF THE MONTH: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Run For Your Life - In Theatres For Limited One Week Run To Celebrate The NYC
Marathon
Comes to DVD October 28th, 2008
Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Judd Ehrlich’s Documentary About the Relentlessly
Ambitious and Endlessly Quirky Founder of the New York
City Marathon, Fred Lebow
(New York, NY) — Screen Media will release Judd Ehrlich’s inspirational and
propelling documentary Run For Your Life on DVD October
28, 2008. The film will also be in New York City theatres the week prior to the
New York City Marathon in honor of race week.
From Emmy-nominated filmmaker Judd Ehrlich comes this remarkable story of how
one man ran New York and inspired millions to do the
same. Chronicling Fred Lebow’s revolutionary creation of the New York City
Marathon, Ehrlich uses archival footage of Lebow himself
and couples it with a myriad of exclusive interviews including: Mayor Ed Koch,
Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton; Lebow
family members Moshe Katz, Sarah Katz and Mike Lebowitz; New York Times
reporters Neil Amdur and George Vescey; original marathoners
Norb Sander and Gary Muhrcke (winner of the first NYC Marathon in 1970); and
other notable athletes including Bill Rodgers, Alberto
Salazar, Grete Waitz, Nina Kuscsik, Frank Shorter and Kathrine Switzer. The film
also includes the last known interview with
Olympian legend Ted Corbitt.
“As a New Yorker, Fred's story spoke to me,” Ehrlich recalls. “I grew up here
and I remember how he transformed the city each year
putting on the marathon with glitz and flare. Fred was a showman and, like all
performers, there was a side of his persona that few
people really knew about.”
Credited as the mastermind behind the New York City Marathon, Fred Lebow is now
one of the most influential American icons. He fled
his Orthodox home in war-torn Europe and found his calling when he brought
together a group of runners for the first NYC Marathon in
Central Park. In 1976, Lebow took the race through all five boroughs, uniting a
divided city and sparking a worldwide fitness boom.
Lebow lived for the NYC Marathon, yet he only ran through the five boroughs
once, as the world looked on, in an unforgettable race
against the odds.
The film originally premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to critical and
audience acclaim. It finished 6th overall in the audience
rankings and was also a favorite of festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, who
described it as “fascinating” in a television appearance
alongside co-founder Robert DeNiro.
“Fred ignited what we know as the most popular participatory sport today,” says
Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of the NYRR and
director of the NYC Marathon, who attended a screening of Run for Your Life last
spring. “He made running part of popular culture.”
“We are releasing the film around the New York City Marathon as homage to Fred
and in celebration of today’s runners. Even if you
aren’t a runner you can truly enjoy this film and its inspirational story.” said
Screen Media Films President, Robert Baruc.
About Judd Ehrlich
Judd Ehrlich was born August 17, 1971 and raised in New York City. He produced
and directed Mayor of the West Side, the
Emmy-nominated coming-of–age story about a teenager with multiple disabilities.
The documentary continues to air on public
television stations nationwide, and will through 2009. Ehrlich collaborated on
the editing of Ric Burns' epic PBS series, New York,
and Macky Alston's Sundance Film Festival award-winner and PBS broadcast, Family
Name. He also worked for the acclaimed PBS
documentary series POV and edited for CBS News. Ehrlich has created and curated
multiple film series around New York City, hosting
notables such as Darren Aronofsky, Steve Buscemi, Tony Kushner, Cyndi Lauper,
and Willem Dafoe. He teaches documentary filmmaking in
high schools and colleges and is a graduate of Vassar College. Ehrlich lives in
Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
For more information, see www.fredlebowmovie.com.


For more publications on running and triathlon visit:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/human_kinetics.html and
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/amazon.html

THIS WEEK'S FEATURES:


1. Marathon Training: At War With Injuries:
It’s the fall marathon season, as runners around the world know all too well,
and as the training miles pile up, countless runners
are feeling unexpected aches and pains — and desperation. Will they recover in
time to continue training and run 26.2 miles? Should
they try to run through the pain to stay on schedule? Or would it be better to
just give up on the marathon?
Well, injured runners, I feel your pain. I am one of you, the anxious masses of
aspiring marathoners who are finding out that the
journey to the start line may be more painful than the run to the finish.
I am entered in the New York City Marathon, scheduled for Nov. 2, and in my
moments of pain and panic I knew I would never be ready.
But I tried just about any remedy that might relieve the pain in my right
forefoot, which has been screaming with each step since
Sept. 8.
I wanted to run through it, but even though I can tolerate pain, this was
something else. Excruciating.
What to do? Giving up on the marathon was never an appealing option. So I
entered the world of injured but determined runners.
My plans began in July 2007, when I found a distance running coach, Tom Fleming,
who won the New York City Marathon twice, in 1973
and 1975. And I found friends to run with.
A year ago, I ran in a half-marathon in Philadelphia and loved it. As soon as
registration for the New York marathon opened, I
signed up. So did my son and so did my friend and running partner, Jennifer
Davis, who has run more than a two dozen marathons and
races beyond 26.2 miles, including a 100-mile race last winter, which she won.
She entered the New York race so we could run
together, and she said she would keep me on pace.
Her commitment only added to the desperation factor when I was injured and could
not run.
More...from the NY Times at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/sports/othersports/27marathon.html?ref=sports


2. Bob Kennedy on the Mindset Needed for Breakthrough Performances:
An interview with the American record holder and first non-African to break
13:00 for 5K.
As the first non-African to break 13:00 for 5,000m, American record holder Bob
Kennedy is the go-to guy to learn more about the
mentality needed in training and racing to achieve breakthrough performances.
His insights are highly relevant for all goal-setting
runners, regardless of their ability level. (14:59)
Listen to this story on RT Radio at:
http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=14397


3. Anabolic steroid use enhances powerlift athletes for years:
In a new study discussed at the American Physiological Society, a Swedish group
found that the use of anabolic steroids produced
long lasting enhancement of the muscle cells. (The Science Blog; Scientific
American -
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/anabolic-steroids-still-provide-a-competitive-edg\
e-in-power-lifting-even-years-after-doping-has-ended
-17446.html)
A team of researchers has examined the impact of anabolic steroid use on power
lifters years after the athletes had ceased to take
the drugs. The researchers found that while physical traces of the drug no
longer remained, changes in the shoulder and quadriceps
still gave lifters an advantage years later.
The research was conducted by Anders Eriksson and Lars-Eric Thornell, Department
of Integrative Medical Biology, Section conducted
the study for Anatomy, Umea University, Umea, Sweden; Christer Malm, Umeå
University and Winternet and Patrik Bonnerud, Department
of Health Science, Section for Medical Science, Lulea University of Technology,
Lulea, Sweden; and Fawzi Kadi, Department of
Physical Education and Health, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden.
The researchers ascertained 3 subject groups: power lifters, power lifters
currently using the juice, and power lifters who used
steroids in the past but abstained now. The muscle fiber and muscle groups
examined:
For power lifters, type IIB fiber, the most powerful, is most frequently used.
The use of anabolic steroids can add more nuclei to
the muscle, and enhance muscle fiber size.
The researchers examined data in two muscles: the vastus lateralis, found in the
quadriceps, and the trapezius, a part of the
shoulder-neck muscle. Each muscle is key to power lifting.
The results were startling:
The researchers found that several years after anabolic steroid withdrawal, and
with no or low current strength-training, the muscle
fiber area intensity, the number of nuclei per fiber in the quadriceps was still
comparable to that of athletes that were currently
performing high intensity strength-training. They also discovered that the
shoulder-neck fiber areas were comparable to
high-intensity trained athletes and the number of nuclei per fiber was even
higher than found in the current steroid-using group.
According to the lead researcher, Dr. Eriksson, ”It is possible that the high
number of nuclei we found in the muscle might be
beneficial for an athlete who continues or resumes strength training because
increased myonuclei opens up the possibility of
increasing protein synthesis, which can lead to muscle mass.” He added, “Based
on the characteristics between doped and non-doped
power lifters, we conclude that a period of anabolic steroid usage is an
advantage for a power lifter in competition, even several
years after they stop taking a doping drug.”
As many clean Olympic athletes argued, once a competitor used an anabolic
steroid, the competitive advantage may be maintained over
years.
And the NFL doles out a 4 game suspension for steroid policy violations...
From Steroid Nation at:
http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2008/09/anabolic-steroi.html


4. No more bonking:
Eat, drink and your run will be merry.
For competitive and recreational runners, fall is race season. It's time to put
a summer of training to the test on race day. While
there is plenty to think about -- the right shoes, the weather or a nervous
stomach that might act up at an inopportune time -- it's
equally important to learn how to fuel your body for your best possible race.
HYDRATION
Despite all of the benefits that come from drinking enough fluid for training
and competition, hydration has become a remarkably
controversial area. After years of pushing runners to drink plenty of water to
prevent even slight dehydration, sports scientists
are now moving to a more general recommendation to drink according to your
thirst. This new way of thinking was spurred by a greater
understanding of the impact of overhydration, also known as hyponatremia, on
runners' health.
In a nutshell, researchers have learned that drinking too much water during
exercise can dilute sodium levels in the bloodstream
enough to throw the body's delicate electrolyte balance into flux. The result is
a state that looks and feels a lot like
dehydration: nausea and vomiting, confusion and muscle cramps. Left untreated,
or worse, treated as dehydration by pushing more
fluids, overhydration can lead to seizure, coma and even death.
More...from the National Post at:
http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=813961


5. Why Old Athletes Come Back:
Maybe its the fear of turning 40. Maybe its the feeling of unfinished business.
Maybe its the fire in the belly that has not quite
extinguished. For retired elite athletes, the itch is always there to make a
return after experiencing "life after sport". For some,
it becomes too strong to ignore.
This year has seen the return of at least three champions, Dara Torres, Lance
Armstrong and Brett Favre. As they explain their
individual reasons for coming back, some similarities emerge that have more to
do with psychological needs than practical needs. In
a recent Miami Herald article, Torres explained her comeback to competitive
swimming at age 41, "For me, it's not like I sat around
and watched swimming on TV and thought, 'Oh, I wish I was still competing'. It
was more gradual. But all of a sudden, something goes
off inside you and you start seriously thinking about a comeback. You'd think
the competitive fire would die down with maturity, but
I've actually gotten worse. I wasn't satisfied with silver medals. I hate to
lose now more than I did in my 20s. I'm still trying to
figure out why.''
Drawing inspiration from Torres, Lance Armstrong has decided to make a comeback
at age 37 with a declared goal to win his eighth
Tour de France. In a recent Vanity Fair article, he described his rationale,
“Look at the Olympics. You have a swimmer like Dara
Torres. Even in the 50-meter event [freestyle], the 41-year-old mother proved
you can do it. The woman who won the marathon
[Constantina Tomescu-Dita, of Romania] was 38. Older athletes are performing
very well. Ask serious sports physiologists and they’ll
tell you age is a wives’ tale. Athletes at 30, 35 mentally get tired. They’ve
done their sport for 20, 25 years and they’re like,
I’ve had enough. But there’s no evidence to support that when you’re 38 you’re
any slower than when you were 32."
Is it the 40 factor? Brett Favre, who turns 39 in October, made his
well-publicized return to the NFL last month wanting to return
so badly that he accepted a trade to the New York Jets so that he could play.
His public and emotional decision to retire in March,
only to begin hinting at a comeback in early summer showed the internal struggle
he had with stepping away from sports.
More...from Live Science at:
http://www.livescience.com/culture/080927-sports-retirement.html


6. Brain study shows some animals crave exercise:
Like junkies without drugs, mice without running wheels crave what they lack,
suggesting that some animals can develop an addiction
for exercise, report scientists in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal Behavioral
Neuroscience.
We all know someone who can't get enough exercise: the marathon runner who
jogged 26 miles in all 50 states, the neighbor who speed
walks at the crack of dawn or the cyclist who zooms by every Sunday.
We might say these people are addicted to physical activity. But the debate on
exercise addiction has remained largely unresolved -
until now, that is.
The new study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, adds evidence
that the same brain circuitry involved in other types
of craving - such as for food, drugs or sex - is activated in mice that are
denied access to the running wheel.
The findings, say the researchers, lend support to the addictive nature of
exercise in some animals.
The researchers studied changes in brain activity in two groups of rodents:
typical laboratory mice and a special breed of mice
selected over 29 generations for their affinity for voluntary wheel running.
'All mice run on wheels, and, therefore, have a motivation to run,' says Justin
Rhodes, a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon Health &
Science University who completed the study while a graduate student at
UW-Madison. But he adds that the specially bred mice have a
genetic predisposition to run longer distances.
'They represent those few extreme individuals in the population with an intense
desire or compulsion to run,' he says.
More...from Medical News Today at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4774.php


7. How Powerful Is Your Workout?
THE four stationary bikes look almost like any others, except that they are
fitted with an arm crank and are hooked up to a
generator. As riders pedal and turn the lever, the movement creates a current
that flows to a battery pack. They generate an average
of 200 watts, enough to run the stereo, a 37-inch L.C.D. television and a laptop
for an hour at this new gym in Portland, Ore.
Adam Boesel, a personal trainer, wants his clients to burn calories, not fossil
fuels. Last month he opened the Green Microgym, one
of a new breed of fitness clubs that seek to harness the power of human exercise
as a source of electricity.
“It’s cool, fun stuff and an excellent workout,” said Mr. Boesel, who spent a
recent Monday morning demonstrating the
power-producing bike machine, designed by a Texas manufacturer and called the
Team Dynamo.
Mr. Boesel, 37, says the Microgym — the name is a riff on the city’s signature
microbreweries — is more than a gimmick. “It is an
example of what a community can do to conserve energy, even if it’s a drop in
the bucket.”
The club has energy efficient treadmills, remanufactured elliptical trainers and
barbells “rescued from negligent owners on
Craigslist,” Mr. Boesel said. Wall-mounted solar panels, to be installed this
fall, will generate about eight kilowatts of
electricity, he said. The gym doesn’t have any showers or drinking fountains,
and the club’s 70 members live within walking
distance, “which is probably the greenest part of the gym,” Mr. Boesel said.
More...from the NY Times at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/fashion/25gym.html?ref=fitnessandnutrition


8. Enduring Questions - Why Do We Suffer?
Running can hurt. This is one runner's quest to understand the bittersweet
symphony.
The wheels were falling off my cart, and all I could do was watch them roll
away. This was my third straight August running the
Pikes Peak Ascent, and I'd begun the day confident, ready to put hard-won
lessons to work. My first year at Pikes, I'd entered on a
whim, overconfident and undertrained, and I'd lumbered to the finish line, 13.3
miles and 7,815 feet above the start, thoroughly
spanked. The next year, I'd come prepared to expect a finish time akin to a road
marathon. I'd upped my mileage and practiced
running above 14,000 feet, but still I'd limped home after aggravating an old
Achilles injury. Today I was ready for a charmed third
try. I was fit, healthy, and confident of a top-10 finish. Maybe I'd even break
three hours if all went well.
I'd begun at a moderate pace as planned, but when I reached No Name Creek, where
I'd intended to start pushing, my body refused to
follow the script. My quads and hamstrings tightened then seized, my chest
constricted, my arms went all noodley, and a paralyzing
fatigue overtook me. It was nothing less than slow-motion agony.
My confidence evaporated, and a downward spiral of negative thoughts engulfed
me. I was wallowing in dread at the many miles I had
left to plod when a spectator pumped her fist at me and shouted, "Looking great!
You're in eighth place!"
In an instant, my world changed. The weight in my legs lifted, my breathing
relaxed, and my spirit crawled out of its hole. Suddenly
I didn't just look great to my anonymous fan, I actually felt great, too. So
great that I picked up the pace and finished the race
sixth overall. My time, 3:08:21, wasn't quite what I'd hoped for, yet I'd turned
a disaster into a solid performance.
But how? As I sat at the finish, watching runners trudge up the final
switchbacks like a swarm of ants, I wondered what had happened
down there. What exactly was that misery I'd experienced early on? What purpose
had it served, and why had the pain evaporated with
one tidbit of positive information? Is pain and suffering a psychological
phenomenon that can be overcome like a bad mood, or is it
a danger signal that can't be ignored?
More...from Runner's World at:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--12852-0,00.html


9. Weak Bladders Deter Many Young Women From Sports Participation:
weak bladder is putting many young women off participating in sport, or
prompting them to give it up altogether, suggests new
research.
The prevalence of urinary stress incontinence, defined as an involuntary leakage
of urine, is relatively high among women, with some
research putting the figure as high as 46%.
The researchers asked 679 Italian women about whether they had ever had urinary
stress incontinence. All them were still having
regular periods, and took part in non-competitive sports.
The anonymous responses showed that around 1 in 7 (15%) said they suffered from
the condition. On average, the women had been
putting up with the symptoms for six years.
Being overweight and having had children boosted the risk of urinary stress
incontinence.
Of those affected, almost half said the condition occurred during routine
activities, while one in three said it occurred solely
during sporting activities. One in five said it occurred in both circumstances.
The most risky sports for women with the problem, in descending order of
magnitude, were basketball, athletics, and tennis or
squash.
More...from Science Daily at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080924192449.htm


10. Glucosamine and chondroitin don't slow arthritis:
Two hugely popular supplements used to fight arthritis and joint pain,
glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, do not seem to work any
better than placebo to slow the loss of knee cartilage in osteoarthritis,
researchers reported on Monday.
But the researchers said some of their findings were confusing and said more
study was needed.
"At two years, no treatment showed what we determined to be a clinically
important reduction in joint space width loss," said Dr.
Allen Sawitzke of the University of Utah School of Medicine, who helped lead the
study.
The study, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, confirms
other findings showing the supplements have few or no effects.
The trial is called glucosamine/chondroitin arthritis intervention trial or
GAIT. Writing in the October issue of Arthritis &
Rheumatism, Sawitzke and colleagues said they had trouble interpreting their
results because patients who took placebos had a
smaller loss of cartilage than they should have.
The original GAIT study results in 2006 found the supplements did not reduce the
pain of knee arthritis, except among a small group
of patients with moderate to severe pain.
The GAIT researchers continued to watch 572 volunteers for another 18 months and
found the supplements did not appear to slow the
loss of cartilage, taken either alone or together.
More...from Reuters at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE48S82820080929


11. Does Exercise Really Keep Us Healthy?
~ While exercise can boost mood, its health benefits have been oversold.
~ Moderate exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes in people at risk. Exercise
may reduce the risk of heart disease and breast and
colon cancers.
~ Though the evidence is mixed, exercise may also provide benefits for people
with osteoporosis.
~ Physical activity alone will not lead to sustained weight loss or reduce blood
pressure or cholesterol.
Exercise has long been touted as the panacea for everything that ails you. For
better health, simply walk for 20 or 30 minutes a
day, boosters say — and you don’t even have to do it all at once. Count a few
minutes here and a few there, and just add them up. Or
wear a pedometer and keep track of your steps. However you manage it, you will
lose weight, get your blood pressure under control
and reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
If only it were so simple. While exercise has undeniable benefits, many, if not
most, of its powers have been oversold. Sure, it can
be fun. It can make you feel energized. And it may lift your mood. But before
you turn to a fitness program as the solution to your
particular health or weight concern, consider what science has found.
Moderate exercise, such as walking, can reduce the risk of diabetes in obese and
sedentary people whose blood sugar is starting to
rise. That outcome was shown in a large federal study in which participants were
randomly assigned either to an exercise and diet
program, to take a diabetes drug or to serve as controls. Despite trying hard,
those who dieted and worked out lost very little
weight. But they did manage to maintain a regular walking program, and fewer of
them went on to develop diabetes.
Exercise also may reduce the risk of heart disease, though the evidence is
surprisingly mixed. There seems to be a threshold effect:
Most of the heart protection appears to be realized by people who go from being
sedentary to being moderately active, usually by
walking regularly. More intense exercise has been shown to provide only slightly
greater benefits. Yet the data from several large
studies have not always been clear, because those who exercise tend to be very
different from those who do not.
More...from the NY Times at:
http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-exercise-ess.html


12. VAK Training Helps You Reach Your Goals:
VAK training can transform your running.
VAK refers to the practice of stating your running goal verbally – and then
experiencing the achievement of the goal Visually, in an
Auditory fashion, and Kinesthetically.
For example, your goal might be the achievement of a certain finishing time in a
marathon. To begin a VAK training session for this
goal, you would simply make yourself very comfortable, relax, close your eyes,
and say, “I am going to finish the Boston Marathon in
2:59 (or any relevant race and time).”
Follow up your statement by experiencing the finish of the race Visually. Think
how you will look as you run the final 800 meters to
the finish line, your legs striding forward powerfully, your arms moving
rhythmically and in synch with your legs, your shoulders
back, your head up, and with a broad smile on your face. Visualize how it will
look to take that final stride across the finish
line, to accept the congratulations of the race-support crew, to walk toward the
recovery area with a feeling of great fulfillment
and accomplishment. Focus on such visual images for a few minutes, relaxing and
enjoying them completely.
Then, experience the final moments of the marathon in an Auditory fashion. Hear
the cheering for you as you approach the finish
line, the clapping from bystanders and the strong words of support from the
crowd. Hear the announcer calling out your name. Hear
the sound of your feet bounding along the ground and the sound of your very
rhythmic breathing. Hear the heartfelt congratulations
you will receive after you cross the finish line. Hear your friends shouting to
you, “You did it!”
Finally, experience the finish of the race kinesthetically. Imagine how great it
will feel to see the finish line ahead. Think how
exhilarated you will be as you make your final charge toward the finish line.
Feel your nervous system and leg muscles waking up for
that final surge. Think how the ground will feel as you stride across those last
few meters. And feel how great it will be to relax
totally after you cross the finish line. Your whole body will be warm, and your
spirit will be joyful; your mind and body will be
unified.
The Law of Attraction says that we make things happen by thinking about them in
advance. It says that we make our goals real for the
first time and begin to believe and trust that we can attain them by thinking
about them deeply, by thinking about what they really
are and how much we really want them, and by experiencing them in the VAK ways.
I know that VAK works. I never truly realized that I
could attain my goals until I began using VAK. Regular practice of VAK also
brings great internal peace; it is a form of meditation.
VAK is also the perfect antidote to negative or doubting thoughts. If you think
“I might be able to achieve this goal,” then that
doubting thought becomes ingrained in your mind, forms a groove right across
your cerebral cortex, takes on a life of its own and
“lights up” on race day, and – sure enough – on your day of competition you
might be able to attain your goal, but then again you
might not. It is important to use VAK immediately whenever the doubtful voice
shows up, during your preparations for a key race or
within the race itself. VAK is the perfect anti-venom for the crippling fatigue
and I-can’t-go-on syndrome which can strike during
competitions. When exhaustion strikes, you can call up your VAK images, sounds,
and feelings instantly – and say “I am going to do
this!!”
VAK is also extremely forward-thinking. When you employ VAK, you focus on future
successes, not past disappointments and mistakes.
VAK is an extreme confidence-builder: As you see, hear, and feel yourself
succeeding, you come to believe that you indeed have the
power to reach your most-important goal.
Let’s face it: You want to reach your running goal very badly. VAK puts your
whole mind and body to work on the task of achieving
your goal, and hitting your target time becomes very real and absolutely
possible. Using VAK can be a very emotional process,
helping you see just how important your goals are to you – and why they are
important. You’ll understand yourself better when you
employ VAK regularly. Systematic use of VAK will boost your self-esteem and
create the mental state which is necessary for optimal
performance. When that mental approach is combined with the physical prowess you
have achieved through challenging training, your
previous limits will be broken, and you will soar far above your previous
performances.
From the Educated Runner at:
http://www.educatedrunner.com/


13. During Exercise, The Human Brain Shifts Into High Gear On 'Alternative
Energy':
Alternative energy is all the rage in major media headlines, but for the human
brain, this is old news. According to a study by
researchers from Denmark and The Netherlands, the brain, just like muscles,
works harder during strenuous exercise and is fueled by
lactate, rather than glucose.
Not only does this finding help explain why the brain is able to work properly
when the body's demands for fuel and oxygen are
highest, but it goes a step further to show that the brain actually shifts into
a higher gear in terms of activity. This opens doors
to entirely new areas of brain research related to understanding lactate's
specific neurological effects.
"Now that we know the brain can run on lactate, so to speak, future studies
should show us when to use lactate as part of a
treatment," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
"From an evolutionary perspective, the result of this
study is a no-brainer. Imagine what could have or did happen to all of the
organisms that lost their wits along with their glucose
when running from predators. They were obviously a light snack for the animals
able to use lactate."
More...from Science Daily at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930135305.htm


14. Aqua Jogging:
Recently, I’ve been plagued with an injury while preparing to race the Ironman
World Championship of triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. The
injury is called “IT Band Friction Syndrome” and requires low-impact or
non-weight bearing exercise to maintain fitness until the
knee is pain-free (alternative, highly non-attractive option is to run through
the pain and destroy your knee forever).
This type of low-impact requirement involves creating, non-traditional methods
to maintain peak aerobic fitness without causing
damage to an inflamed tendon. Research has shown that non-impact water exercise
offers this benefit, and this activity is utilized
by quite a few pro triathletes and marathoners. Consequently, at my triathlon
training and racing blog
(http://bengreenfieldtri.blogspot.com), I have several workout entries that
include the term “Aqua Jogging”. So what exactly is aqua
jogging (AKA water running) and how do you do it?
There are two different types of aqua jogging: 1) running in a deep water where
you cannot touch bottom of pool; 2) running in
shallow water with feet touching bottom of pool.
The first method of aqua jogging is the “non-impact” version that I highly
recommend and that I will introduce in this post. The
second version is relatively low-impact when compared to running, but can still
cause pain in the knees during the initial stages of
something like an IT band injury.
More...from TriFuel at:
http://www.trifuel.com/training/workouts/aqua-jogging


15. VO2max Newsletter by Dr. Jason Karp:
* The Best Workout
I was recently asked at a coaching clinic what's the most important type of
workout runners should do. While this is a difficult
question, and depends on a number of factors (not the least of which are the
genetically-determined strengths and weaknesses of the
runner), the workout that will give you the most bang for your buck and have the
greatest impact on your fitness and performance is
long intervals (3-5 minutes) run at the velocity at VO2max (95-100% maximum
heart rate). An example would be 5 x 3 minutes (800 to
1,000 meters) at the velocity at VO2max with 2:30 jog recovery. Runners are not
the only ones who can benefit from this type of
workout; it's also great for the general public who want to lose weight and get
fit. These workouts increase your maximum stroke
volume and cardiac output, increase mitochondrial enzyme activity, and increase
VO2max. Additionally, these workouts are performed
at an intensity higher than the lactate threshold, so there is also an anaerobic
component, prompting an improvement in
"anaerobic-related" factors, such as acidosis buffering capacity.
* Tapering
With Haile Gebrselassie's recent world marathon record of 2:03:59 and marathon
season beginning in the U.S., there's a lot of
attention on the marathon. If you're planning on running a marathon this fall,
chances are you're already thinking about your
taper. The taper may be the most complicated part of training, since you want
to back off on your training to completely recover
and eliminate all fatigue while not backing off too much that you lose fitness.
While research has shown that tapering results in
changes in biological markers that reflect a reduced training stress and an
increased recovery, and that improved performance (from
0.5% to 6%) is more likely to occur after a period of reduced training, it has
not established the time frame separating the
benefits of a successful taper from the negative consequences of insufficient
training.
Most studies on tapering in runners have examined the effect of 1-week tapers on
short distance events, and have found that the
intensity of training is more important than either the training volume (weekly
mileage) or frequency. When training for a 5K, you
can reduce both your weekly mileage and the number of days you run per week as
long as you keep the intensity high. For example,
studies using a low volume/high intensity taper for 1 week (e.g., an 85%
reduction in mileage and 5x500 meters at 800-meter race
pace with 6-7 minutes recovery, decreasing by 1 rep each day for 5 days) have
found improvements in running economy and 5K
performance, and increases in aerobic enzyme activity, blood volume, and time to
fatigue at 1,500-meter race pace compared to a
moderate-volume/low-intensity taper (e.g., 6 miles at 60% VO2max, decreasing by
1.25 miles each day for 5 days) or a taper with no
running at all.
There has been little research on the effect of tapering on long-distance
running, with one study finding that a taper using an 85%
reduction in mileage for 1 week did not affect half-marathon performance, and
that performance was similar to that of runners who
didn't taper. Before a marathon, most people taper for 2 to 3 weeks, however I
believe the taper should be shorter the lower the
mileage you're doing. Although research has shown that reductions in training
volume up to 60 to 90 percent can improve
performance, the research is limited to much shorter races that are not as
endurance-dependent as the marathon. Given the length of
the marathon, and thus its large dependence on aerobic metabolism, it's better
not to decrease mileage by as much as 90 percent.
This is especially important for runners who are less talented or less fit (4-
to 5-hour marathoners),
who will be better served spending as much time as possible developing their
aerobic capabilities rather than by backing off for a
full 3 weeks before their marathon.
Many of my decisions concerning the taper depend on the strengths and weaknesses
of my athletes and what has yielded positive
results in the past. If they've been doing high mileage (more than 70 miles per
week), I typically begin cutting their mileage 3
weeks before the marathon, with the first week at 70% of peak training mileage,
the second week at 50%, and the week of the marathon
at 35% (not counting the marathon itself). I keep the intensity high during the
first week, including one interval workout at 3K
race pace and one moderately-long run (13-15 miles) with about half at lactate
threshold pace (what I call an LT/LSD combo run). As
it gets closer to the marathon, I reduce the "volume of intensity"
by reducing the number of intervals in each session. During the second week, I
include two short- to medium-distance runs (5-10
miles) at marathon race pace. The week of the race, I include one interval
workout early in the week at either lactate threshold
pace or slightly faster. The final week also includes a daily progressive
reduction in mileage that
mirrors the pattern of the weekly reduction.
If you're running a marathon this fall, take care in planning your taper--and
good luck on race day!
To view past newsletters go to: http://www.runcoachjason.com/newsletter
Copyright Jason Karp All Rights Reserved - http://www.runcoachjason.com


16. Building Better Bodies:
IN this factory town in south-central Michigan, hard hit by the decline of the
auto industry and home to a population whose health
grimly lags well below national averages, several dozen small-business owners
have joined forces in a wellness campaign that rivals
those of the country’s giant corporations.
With fewer employees to rely on, small businesses are particularly vulnerable
when workers take sick days or function poorly on the
job.
“If they’re not healthy and alert, they can’t do things like designing
projects,” said Mike Shirkey, owner of Orbitform Group, a
machine tools company with 55 employees in Jackson.
An engineering graduate of the University of Michigan, Mr. Shirkey compares the
wellness program with the “measure and improve”
approach that he applies to manufacturing. Two years ago, Mr. Shirkey helped
persuade other business owners in Jackson to join a CEO
Roundtable, a forum and self-help group for top executives that is trying to
address employees’ health as a crucial part of
corporate strategy, rather than as simply a cost-management problem.
Kirk Mercer, president of R. W. Mercer, a Jackson-based contractor that builds
small factories, doctors’ offices and other
commercial buildings in the Midwest, said he was so taken with this approach
that he was urging his small subcontractors, each with
a handful of employees, to join the wellness roundtable.
More...from the NY Times at:
http://tinyurl.com/3l2o7w


17. Bottle Drama:
Due to recent warnings, many runners are wondering if our plastic water bottles
belong in the recycling bin.
They're in our cars and gym bags. But due to recent warnings, many runners are
wondering if our plastic water bottles belong in the
recycling bin. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical in polycarbonate bottles, has been
linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and endocrine
damage in animals. And while research is needed to determine whether BPA is
dangerous to humans, animals given low doses of BPA—an
amount equivalent to what people are presumed to ingest—have experienced health
problems, says Scott Belcher, Ph.D., a runner and
cell biologist at the University of Cincinnati. The FDA says polycarbonate
bottles are safe, and a panel from the National
Institutes of Health concluded that there is only "negligible concern" regarding
BPA's effects on adults. Still, many people
(including Belcher) prefer to avoid BPA. And the industry has responded: Nalgene
has stopped making their bottles with BPA;
Patagonia has pulled polycarbonate bottles from store shelves. Because runners
can't stop drinking on the go, we asked some experts
to weigh in on the plastic bottles available.
More...from Runner's World at:
http://tinyurl.com/4tc5zl


18. How Elliptical Exercise Machines Improve Cardiovascular Health:
Elliptical exercise machines are becoming more and more popular and
sophisticated in their overall design since their introduction
in the 90s. It is estimated that millions of Americans use elliptical trainers
in their home gyms. The reason for their popularity
is the low-impact design and total body workout these machines provide.
Elliptical exercise machines are hard to beat when it comes
to improving cardiovascular health. They are safe for older people, beginners
and even expectant mothers, yet challenging enough for
the most serious fitness buff.
Low Impact Design Prevents Injuries
Experts agree that weight-bearing activities such as jogging and aerobics are
necessary to maintain healthy bone density.
Weight-baring exercises include all activities where you remain standing on your
feet. The problem is that many of these exercises
are hard on the joints by jarring the bones and muscles. You may aggravate old
injuries or even injure yourself all over again.
Knees, ankles, hips and the back are all prone to feel the impact of these types
of workouts. Therapists often prescribe low impact
exercises for people recovering from an accident, people who suffer from
arthritis or pregnant women. This is where elliptical
exercise machines fit in.
More...from Best Syndication at:
http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=node/18192


19. Warning Labels for Caffeinated Energy Drinks:
Super-caffeinated energy drinks popular with teenagers, with names like Red
Bull, Monster and Full Throttle, should carry warning
labels, says a group of prominent caffeine researchers.
In an article published this month in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence,
researchers from Johns Hopkins University say
caffeinated energy drinks should carry labels that note caffeine doses and warn
of potential health risks for consumers.
The caffeine content of energy drinks varies from 50 milligrams to more than 500
milligrams per serving. A regular 12-ounce cola
drink has about 35 milligrams of caffeine, and a 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee
has 80 to 150 milligrams of caffeine.
Some energy drinks contain the caffeine equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, said
Roland Griffiths, a professor of behavioral biology
and one of the study authors. “Yet the caffeine amounts are often unlabeled, and
few include warnings about the potential health
risks of caffeine intoxication,” he said.
Dr. Griffiths notes that caffeine intoxication is a recognized clinical syndrome
included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders and the World Health Organization’s International
Classification of Diseases. It is marked by nervousness,
anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, rapid
heartbeats, restlessness and pacing, and in rare cases, even
death.
In a 2007 survey of 496 college students, 51 percent reported consuming at least
one energy drink during the last month. Of these
energy drink users, 29 percent reported “weekly jolt and crash episodes,” and 19
percent reported heart palpitations from drinking
energy drinks, the report stated. This same survey found that 27 percent of the
students said they mixed energy drinks and alcohol
at least once in the past month.
More...from the NY Times at:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/warning-labels-for-caffeinated-energy-d\
rinks/


20. Digest Briefs:
* Suffering Joints? Stop and Smell the Roses
Roses (genus Rosa) encompass over 100 known species. Cultivated for their
fragrance and beauty, roses historically have been the
center of much praise. Poets have dedicated odes to their beauty, they have
been desired by centuries of gardeners and are one of
the most universal symbols, often representing love and life. As the phrase
goes, sometimes you do have to “stop and smell the
roses.”
Although you may think that this is just a fancy way of saying take some time to
enjoy life, perhaps we have dismissed roses for too
long. Seriously, you should pay more attention to those roses. They could
greatly improve your life. That is, if you are one of the
millions of people in the US who suffer from arthritis diseases such as
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Results from two different arthritis studies have confirmed that an active
ingredient of rose hips has been shown to protect and
possibly rebuild joint tissue broken down by arthritis. The latest results,
presented at the Osteoarthritis Research Society
International (ORSI) World Conference in Rome, explained the mechanism of
protein GOPO(R) found in rose hips. This extract, has
demonstrated the ability to protect vulnerable cartilage and possibly stimulate
its regeneration. GOPO(R) has also been shown to
improve mood, increased energy and sleep quality of those affected by arthritis.
Conditions such as Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis cause a breakdown of
vital cartilage in joints. According to the
Arthritis Foundation, there are 27 million people in the US living with
Osteoarthritis in the US and 1.3 million people affected by
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Marked by stiffness, swelling, loss of flexibly and pain,
arthritis can significantly deter one from a normal
life. There is no clear cause for arthritis although a number of risk factors
have been identified including genetics, obesity and
age. These conditions worsen over time as there is no cure for arthritis.
Treatment includes either steroidal or non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs and/or pain killers and can be daunting for one who
doesn’t wish to resign themselves to a lifetime regimen
of Advil and Vicoden. Alternatives such as GOPO(R) from rose hips may prove to
be a better solution for joint swelling and pain
without the side effects of large doses of pain killers, steroids or other
anti-inflammatory medications.
At the forefront of the ORSI World Conference were the results of two studies
demonstrating the benefits of GOPO(R). The first study
examined the effects of rose hip powder on cartilage cells (chrondrocytes)
responsible for building cartilage in the joints. The
study found that GOPO(R) deactivated genes responsible for certain protein and
enzymatic triggers of joint destruction by an
inflammation reaction by the body. It was also seen to switch on genes which
help produce collagen and cartilage, which is a key to
joint repair. This study also saw that rose hip powder was able to inhibit the
production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric
oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).
The second study focused on rose hip powder effects on the immune system of
horses, which are prone to developing OA early in life.
The study found that horses given GOPO(R) acted as an anti-inflammatory agent
and was a factor in the significantly increased
exercise performance compared with untreated groups.
Researcher and investigator Dr. Kaj Winther, of the Frederiksberg Hospital,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark believes that rose
hips may hold the key to a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can alleviate
degeneration of joint material. “We have little doubt
that certain rose hip preparations, and GOPO(R) in particular, have had an
important role to play in reducing the pain and
disability associated with some joint conditions,” said Winther. “The results of
these new studies suggest that the primary
mechanism of action of rose hips is to reduced inflammation and protect joint
tissue from damaging substances produced by an
over-active immune system.”
With the aid of this new research, those affected by joint pain caused by
arthritis could opt for an alternative treatment than
stressors such as pain killers, steroids or other anti-inflammatory medication.
“We…suspect that more people will be turning to the
power of rose-hip for joint pain relief,” said Winther.
* How Pistachios Improve Heart Health
We already know that pistachios can help lower your cholesterol levels and
reduce your risks for heart disease. But how? Penn State
researchers offer an explanation:
The researchers report in the most recent issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition that “Inclusion of pistachios in a
healthy diet beneficially affects cardiovascular disease risk factors in a
dose-dependent manner, which may reflect effects on
Stearoyl CoA Desaturase (SCD). ” The researchers used the ratio of two fatty
acids, 16:1 and 16:0 in plasma as a marker for SCD, an
enzyme that is involved in the body’s synthesis of fatty acids.
However, the researchers note that the reduction in LDL cholesterol observed was
seven times greater than would be expected from
only the fatty acid profile of pistachios. They suggest that the lipid lowering
effects not only reflect the fatty acid profile of
the diet, but also are the result of other bioactive substances in pistachios,
perhaps phytosterols and fiber.





THIS WEEK'S FEATURED EVENTS:
*Please verify event dates with the event websites available from our FrontPage
(www.runnersweb.com)*

October 5, 2008:
Army Ten-Miler - Washington, DC

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon - Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN
USA Women's 10 Mile, USA Men's & Masters Marathon Championships

Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon - Milwaukee, WI

Portland Marathon - ORE

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose, CA


June 20, 2008
Emilie's Run - The Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women - Ottawa, ON
http://www.emiliesrun.com

For more complete race listings check out our Upcoming Races, and Calendars.
Check the Runner's Web on Sunday and Monday for race reports on these events at:
http://www.runnersweb.com/

Send this to a Friend:
Forward the Runner's Web Digest to a friend and suggest that they subscribe at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunnersWeb/join

YOUR FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS:
Comments, contributions and feedback are always welcome via this list at:
mailto:runnersweb@yahoogroups.com and in our Runner's Web Forum, available off
our FrontPage. If you post to the mailing list and
get your email returned, please contact the Runner's Web at
mailto:webmaster@... to notify us of the problem. To update your
Runner's Web eGroups subscriber's profile, go to the
web.
site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunnersWeb/join , sign in and update your
changes.
Forward the Runner's Web Digest to a friend and suggest that they subscribe at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunnersWeb/join

Have a good week of training and/or racing.

Ken

Ken Parker
www.RunnersWeb.com
The Running and Triathlon Resource Portal
mailto:kparker@...
613-746-4053
http://www.OACRacingTeam.com
http://www.EmiliesRun.com

*********************************************
RUNNER'S WEB AFFILIATE PROGRAMS:
*********************************************
All revenue from advertisers and affiliate programs goes into the support of
running and triathlon through sponsorship of events,
teams, clinics and fund raising programs for Canada's Olympic athletes.

XM Satellite Radio
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000021517490

Puma
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000005110141&pubid=2100000000\
0028567

Champion
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=h1QosBYBFXw&offerid=113858.10000144\
&type=1&subid=0

Nike
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000015009821

Free Ground Shipping on Orders of $175 or More at Patagonia.com
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000012303508&pubid=2100000000\
0028567

Your very own personal trainer at a fraction of the cost
http://www.cartville.com/app/?af=473063

Check out TotalWellness's mp3 Personal Training Program - only 5% the Cost of
Regular Personal Training!
http://www.totalwellnessconsulting.ca/fitter_u_totalwellness.htm

Buy Paula Radcliffe's book, My Story - So Far, from Amazon UK at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/074325242X/runnersweb-21

Instant Stretching Routines
Design unlimited stretching routines today, starting from scratch, in under 60
seconds!
http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/cmd.php?af=245575&u=http://www.thestretchin\
ghandbook.com/newsletter.php

ShoeWallet.com has set out on a mission to enable people to easily carry ID and
medical information at all times. Basically, anyone
who is out on the roads or trails needs a convenient place to carry this vital
information.
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?joggerscompanion+pXgxpm+index.html+

SportsShoes in the UK
http://www.sportsshoes.com/index.php?id=149

TriSwim Coach - The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming
http://hop.clickbank.net/?rhianyth/triswim1

If you have an accident while running or cycling, do you want your family to be
contacted? Do you want to receive immediate and
proper medical treatment?
If so, make this cool item part of your gear -- for safety and peace of mind.
Road ID has created 4 awesome ways for athletes to
wear ID: the SHOE, the WRIST, the ANKLE, and the NECK. Get your RoadID at:
http://www.roadid.com/?referrer=50

The Stretching Handbook:
http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/cmd.php?af=245575&u=http://www.thestretchin\
ghandbook.com/newsletter.php
The Stretching Video in a DVD version. With the DVD version you're able to use
the convenient menu facility to:
* Go directly to a specific stretch;
* View only stretches for a specific muscle group;
* Pause each stretch to get a good look at how it is performed;
* View only the introduction and rules for safe stretching; or
* Play the entire video from start to finish.

NEW SUBSCRIBERS:
This newsletter has been composed using Outlook set to "Text" format. The Digest
is sent via an email list at
http://groups.yahoo.com.
If you experience any delays in receiving your copy of the Digest, please advise
us at:
mailto:webmaster@...
You can receive the digest in three ways:
1. Immediately, via email,
2. Daily, in an email summary, and
3. By accessing the YahooGroups.com web site on demand.
The mail list has been set to not allow attachments out of concerns for viruses.
Also, all messages must be approved by the monitor (me) prior to being released
to the group. If you have any questions regarding
the options available for receiving this digest,
please do NOT email the list, rather email me directly at
mailto:Webmaster@...
*NOTE*
**[ Some e-mail clients may split the URL address into two lines. If you have
trouble connecting to a link, be sure that you paste
the entire address into your browser, so that it ends in ".html" or another
appropriate suffix ].
Note: An increasing number of media sites require free registration. If you wish
to sign up for free access to sources for our
articles without using your main email address we suggest the use of a mail
alias program such as http://www.emailias.com.

*** END OF RUNNER'S AND TRIATHLETE'S WEB DIGEST...***