Archive for the ‘Running’ Category

Now the dust has – just – settled on the streets of the London Marathon let’s spare a thought for all those non-runners. Even before the race start, competition was keen with over 50,000 disappointed applicants unable to take part and the situation is no different across all the World Marathon Majors.

But if you’re still serious about testing your body to its limits, a triathlon event can be an interesting and much more accessible option with less pressure on places. The triathlon event comprises 3 consecutive disciplines of swim, bike and run, with distances to suit all abilities from super sprints to Olympic levels.

At the pinnacle of the triathlon family are the gruelling Ironman competitions, testing the triathletes with increased distances. The toughest courses in Hawaii and the Canaries also add the infinitely more glamorous ingredients of ocean, volcano and scorching sunshine.

Indeed Lanzarote’s Ironman Triathlon is almost upon us, due to take place this year on 20th May, with registration for both men and women closing on 1st May 2006. Lanzarote will see over 800 competitors attempt to complete a 3.8km (2.4 mile) swim, 180km (112.5 mile) volcano bike ride followed by a 42km or 26 mile marathon run, all in one day.

Attracting some of the world’s best professional athletes, the event is definitely not for the fainthearted although the schedule of activities lasts for a few days with fun runs in the week leading up to the event itself, and parties and award ceremonies during the evenings.

If the sun, fun and party elements sound appealing but you find you’re just not quite able to hone your body into this superfit category, then just slow the pace down a notch or two with a stay at Lanzarote’s Club La Santa, official headquarters of the Ironman and recognised as one of the world’s top sports resorts.

Combining superb sports facilities with all year round sunshine, the Canaries are easily reached throughout the summer and winter, see XL to find out about a cheap Lanzarote flight. The Club’s triathlon instructors are available for personal coaching for those more serious athletes with organised professional events such as the Volcano Triathlon as well as weekly smaller triathlon and duathlon events with free participation available for all guests.

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At some points in our lives, we all have wondered if mini triathlon would work for us. Or if mini triathlon lifestyle would suit us best. But as we all understand, the best junction to start with is in our kid stage.

Many people agree that triathlon is a sport for the uncontented. For those who would want to venture into other competitions that they believe, would help them to get better. And those who would want to push their mental and physical capacities into the limits. It is after all, a game of endurance. Somehow, after the competition and being able to finish a mini triathlon, the sense of achievement would be enough to create a better sense of yourself. While kid’s may not actually understand the full meaning of their actions, triathlon would still prove good in honing their capacities to compete.

In fact, the majority of kid racers are not solely after the title or the price that’s waiting at the end of the line. They enter because they have a personal race to win, a battle for and within themselves.

It surely must take some hard work, pain and dedication to your vision before you become fit for a mini triathlon. Aside from training, you mind and your body must have undergone some preparation and adaptation to the risks involved in a mini-triathlon.

If you are seriously considering joining your kid in a mini-triathlon race, here are some aspects you must work with.

Know your fortes and pitfalls.

Central to this is to improve both of your child’s weak points and strong points. Many can swim well but haven’t tried cycling or are great runners yet terrible swimmers. There are lots of possibilities. Only you and his trainer would be able to spot that. Thus, the advantage of taking formal training.

Visualize a plan.

A workable plan is always the ideal since this allows room for mistakes and improvements. A well-planned training schedule will let you become more realistic. That way, you’ll get the motivation to stick with your plan since you are seeing improvements. Training requires you to take each lesson in their bite size. Don’t try beyond your capacity, unless you have the full conviction that you actually can surpass the hurdles.

Master the basic workouts first. Then gather your strength and work on more difficult routines. Work at your body’s pace and take pleasure from each experience.

Stick with your visualized plan.

There would always be a junction when you would stop believing that your plan will work. This arises from a number of possibilities. One good way of keeping your child from training blues is to make each session as varied as possible so as the height of his motivation will always be kept at different paces.

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This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Triathlon & other useful information, please visit http://triathlon.articlekeep.com

Cool as all heck

Buying the best trail running shoes is no longer a difficult task. Off road running is a very popular sport of choice. For this kind of running, you will need to find the best trail runner to suit your individual needs. You’ll find that trail running shoes have a low or lower heal then average runners. The treads on the bottoms have more detail for traction which should promote good stability. The shoe is built so you can feel the trail beneath you. So when buying the best trail running shoe look for it to it provide you with a density that promotes this awareness. All fabrics and materials do not necessarily have to be thick to provide endurance and the necessary sensitivity.

While looking the best trail runners always keep the activity you would need these shoes for in mind. Some are classified as all terrain trail runners, meaning good for road and trail ways. You could consider this type of trail runner if your trail is a moderate one, nothing too extreme with rocks and roots for example. They’ll serve you with better versatility.

If you’re up for endurance trail running, path running, recreational trail running to keep fit, consider a trail runner that is made for stability, comfort and a good method of support. A mesh fabric on the upper shoe for breathability and comfort, some type of promise of waterproof or quick dry fabric may be a smart choice. Pay attention to what is said about the grip or treads in the sole. With all of these considerations in mind, you should have no problem in finding what is the best trail running shoe for your needs.

Joining triathlon is one thing. Preparing for it is another. So, to avoid coming short on the finish line, you must prepare for it long before the competition starts.

When

Once you have the desire to join triathlon any time soon, the very first thing that should concern you is the right time of your training. Actually, there is no right or wrong time of training. Early in the morning, late in the afternoon or even on midnight would be okay as long as your body can adapt to your time schedule.

If you choose to train early in the morning the effect would be for your body to boost its metabolism. This is great if you want to maintain your body weight. You burn more calories while training and continue for several hours even you have already stopped.

The best time to train is in the afternoon. You are fully energized at this time of the day for your body has been nourished and hydrated since you wake up.

In case you want to train during midnight, you are free to do so. As was said, as long as your body adapts to your time schedule, anytime is okay.

Where

You have 3 disciplines to hone: running, swimming, and biking. Let us start with running. There are several places where you can improve your running. A treadmill would definitely let you monitor every detail you need. An open ground would keep your session just like the real competition. For you who would run outdoor, one tip that should be remembered is that you must change your route regularly. Doing so would keep you up and about every time.

Stationary bike or real triathlon bike are two ways where you can improve this particular discipline. Again, changing your outdoor route would keep you from tiring so fast.

Unless you have swimming pool at your home, access to train on this discipline is limited. Have a particular time where you can hone this.

How

One thing that you must remember is that no matter how hard you train, it would be useless if you result yourself to over fatigue. To avoid this from happening, take a rest. Your body will improve while resting (untrue to the common notion that the body improves during each session). Make sure you have a good rest after every training to avoid not only over fatigue but also injury and lost of motivation.

About the Author:

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Triathlon & other useful information, please visit http://triathlon.articlekeep.com

One coach is fed up with the way kids feel about running, and he’s not going to sit back and take it any more. Rick Karboviak, a cross-country & track coach in northwest Minnesota, has been struggling with the reasons why a majority of kids don’t want to run for competition, and even training for competition. "I think the mindset of today’s kids is that you have to run 5 to 6 miles or more per day when you go out for the sports of track or cross-country." Nothing could be further from the truth, Karboviak says. He feels that the current marathon-based principles used to train young kids aren’t working, and its keeping kids away from joining. "Kids hear horror stories of cross-country runners going on 10 to 12 mile runs, when the most that they run is 3.1 miles in a fast-paced race. It is these horror stories and legendary tales of past running methods that keeps today’s mostly inactive kids away from the sport." Karboviak feels that kids can run less mileage, do it in a high intensity, short duration format, and still improve fitness levels. He feels that coaches need to know of these proven methods of short burst, high intensity training, and how to apply it to today’s multi-sport athlete. "In most regions of the country, there aren’t many pure runners out there, many of them do the sports of track or cross-country as a complement to their other sports. Long distance runs at slow levels may actually hinder their performance in other sports, so taking this high intensity approach is more akin to their other sports they play." The result? Karboviak recorded a 20% increase in race-pace fitness levels, based off of an athlete’s 1000m pace times in their races during his cross-country team’s season in 2005. "The most any kid ran during the season was about less than 25 miles in a week. We had purpose behind our training, not just logging a bunch of endless miles in the hopes of getting faster. We trained fast to get fast, period."

He’s now written a book on his unique training method, called "Endure!". It covers his low-mileage philosophy & reasons why he applies it. There’s also interesting chapters on strength training methods for runners, such as using the new kettlebell style of training for improved running power & control.

Already since it’s launch this summer, coaches in the US, Canada, and even France have purchased the book, making an international impact in it’s first month. The training methods he uses in the book are being chronicled on a weekly series of articles during the cross-country season on a membership-based sports training website, Sportspecific.com.

The website for the e-book is http://endure.speeddialcoach.com. Karboviak’s independent training website for his day job as a fitness coach is www.speeddialcoach.com.

Rick Karboviak is a coach for cross-country and track programs at Thief River Falls Lincoln High School, in Thief River Falls, MN. He’s also started his independent training company, Speed Dial Coach, found at http://speeddialcoach.com.

When it comes to triathlon wear , there is a wide variety of options on the market. For triathletes, the difference in attire is truly a personal choice.

Although some teams may mandate specific uniforms, the sport is generally individual, allowing each participant to choose his or her desired outfit.

When it comes to triathlon wear , the traditional material is neoprene, the same type used in wetsuits.

This is generally due to chilly water temperatures that can cause you to lose valuable time due to cold shock.

Furthermore, using a wet suit for your triathlon suit allows you to use the item for other sports, including scuba diving or surfing.

There are three main items in triathlon wear : full, sleeveless, and two-piece suits.

Again, the choice is purely personal, as each different competitor enjoys a the feel, protection, and mobility of different suits.

The full suit is a one piece suit that covers arms and legs.

This suit is the best multisport suit and can complete cover the arms and legs completely or only cover the legs to the knees and the arms to the elbows.

Sleeveless suits are a one piece suit that stops coverage at the shoulders, but continues to cover the legs to either the knees or the ankles.

Finally, two-piece suits employ mix and match system for triathlon clothes that can include long or short bottoms with long tops, short tops, or no tops at all.

If you are interested in purchasing a multisport suit, consider the difference in the neoprene.

Suits made for surfing, kayaking, or diving are made from thicker, less movable neoprene that may not be flexible enough for the demanding sport of a triathlon.

Like other clothes , choose a suit that is in the middle of the road to ensure the most usefulness.

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Learn more about <A href=”http://www.Gear4Triathlons.com/triathalon-racing.html” target=_new>Triathalon Racing . Do you have what you need to improve your workouts and your races?

Running today is an energetic form of exercise and a very popular sport. Many run because they enjoy it or as part of a fitness plan. It?s come a long way from being the fastest way of getting from Point A to Point B on foot. From a means of transport, to a means to good health or fame and glory!

How many kinds of running are there? Jogging is a way of running at an even and moderate pace. A jogger, unlike an athlete who races, can go on for longer as he does not strain himself to the fullest. Today there are millions of people across the world who jog to keep fit. It needs hardly any equipment – just a good pair of shoes and loose clothing. As it is an aerobic exercise it builds up the circulatory and respiratory systems, and helps when it comes to stress management.

Competitive running in races is a familiar sport. Humans race in marathons across streets, or on racing tracks. Humans even race animals – some of the most popular races are horse and dog racing.

Racing is a way to find out the fastest competitor in the event; it is a contest of speed. These competitions have been held since ancient times. The Olympics has a tradition that dates back to 776 BC, and running was one the most important events. It is still one of the most popular events and runners are stars in their own right. There are many types of events – the 100-meter sprint, long distance running, relays and more. Athletes choose their events, and practice their speed according to the event.

Long distance running is popular and cross-country races are among the most strenuous. Marathons are held in cities across the world. In city marathons you?d find people from all walks of life joining in. You?d even find children racing in these events. Very often, marathons are organized for a cause, with the proceeds going to some charity.

Runners and joggers often suffer from injuries like runner?s knee, shin splints, pulled muscles, twisted ankles, etc. Some of these could be because of insufficient warm ups.

If you are considering running as a form of exercise, start small. It is not possible to run long right from the first day. If you are over 35, have a physical examination done before you set out. If you run right, it could become an enjoyable and effective way to exercise.

If anyone has decided to embark on a diet and fitness programme, please read my article on my personal experiences in this area and feel free to use this in any other articles. Modern life results in many factors which can cause depression and anxiety in the normal person, life pressures, work, relationships, image and general well being all come into context. Today we are barraged within the media by articles and glossy altered images of beautiful people designed at making us buy products or by into a certain lifestyle manipulated by marketing corporates. Everyone to some effect are manipulated by advertising in the media, if not we would all buy the same products and look the same. I myself embarked on a diet and fitness programme many years ago and now run my life by this programme with the odd day off for good behavior.

A few years ago I decided to take fitness seriously as the benefits included relieving stress and anxiety which at the time was becoming an issue in my personal life. I firstly took up running, at first this was extremely hard going only being able to run for about five minutes at any one time. I decided the best route to take was to write down my distances and time and log these for reference; a routine then developed in my running and before long I was up to twenty minutes in a session. I then made significant progress in the following months as part of a personal goal objective and quickly made an average of forty minutes running in a session. What I found as a result of this exercise was that I felt so much better in myself, my stress levels reduced and my anxiety dropped considerably. I also found that running first thing in the morning made me feel good for the rest of the day, it is documented that that early morning runs are the best time to burn fat as you run on an empty stomach and the body uses fat as fuel.

When I run in the morning I find this clears my head for the rest of the day, any bad feelings are gone by the end of the session giving me a positive outlook. I also run in a local royal park which the early mornings holds many beautiful sites such as wild animals and birds sharing the same environment of me virtually undisturbed. I always ensure that I complete a full stretch exercise before running paying particular attention to the legs and thigh muscles, if you do not stretch then this could result in soreness and could tear important muscles as they have not had the time to get a good blood flow within the muscle groups. I would recommend stretching everyday even on the days when you don’t run as this will prevent fatigue and soreness which is very important. It also very important to refuel the body with good quality carbohydrates in within the hour after the exercise as this will give the body the required nutrients and energy. I would strongly recommend running as an exercise which benefits the body aswell as the mind.

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You may have been training for weeks or months already, but now it is 2 weeks before your race and it’s time to think about resting. Many triathletes find this more difficult than swimming 5,000 yards, biking the hills, or running a half marathon!

Here are some things to keep in mind if you are beginning your taper or rest period before your race.

1. Do longer warmups and warmdowns. You can keep your distance up, but start to add more to the beginning and end portion of your workout. This ‘active rest’ will assure that you are well rested for your race but not out of shape.

2. Avoid big meals and sugar. Tapering is an adjustment for your body, and your immune system may not be as strong during this time. Big meals and carbohydrates like sugar will wear your immune system and leave you susceptible to colds and flus. Keep in mind that as your workout intensity decreases, you must decrease calorie intake accordingly.

3. Get as much sleep as you can before midnight. Ideally, get to bed by 10:30. The sleep you get before midnight is the most crucial to your recovery. You will feel more rested if you can do this for at least 2 weeks before your event.

4. Lay off the strength training. This is more of an individual call (some people feel better if they are doing some strength work all the way up until the event, others will be too broken down unless they take a good 2 weeks off), but at the minimum, you should go lighter in the weeks leading up to your event.

5. Avoid caffeine. It may be tough if you are a coffee addict, but 2 weeks of not having that morning cup will give you more natural energy for your race. Take it from 6-time Ironman champion Mark Allen- he practiced this for every race and it worked pretty well for him!

6. Increase your meditation or yoga. Less time working out means more time to prepare mentally! If you don’t do yoga already, don’t start now. However, find some quiet time during the day to get away from work and working out to clear your mind. Think about how easy that swim will be since you are well-prepared with Tri Swim Coach!

7. You will have more energy during your rest or taper period. Don’t be tempted to use it! Save it for your event and you will be glad you did.

Have a great race!

About the Author: Kevin operates the website http://www.TriSwimCoach.com, a resource for beginning through intermediate level triathletes looking for help with swimming. The site features a free email newsletter offering tips and articles on triathlon swimming. Kevin has also written an electronic book titled ?The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming? on http://triswimcoach.com.