Minute 1: Strava provides virtual qualifying for 2019 TCS New York City Marathon
We used to think that running “virtual races” was kinda silly. The Betamax version of this idea was to run a 10K on your home treadmill or along your local roads and pretend that you’re actually running an iconic race like Bolder Boulder or Bay to Breakers. Maybe you could suspend 10% of your disbelief because you were watching a pre-recorded video of the course while you slogged along remotely. Like we said, kinda silly. But the new engagement created for this weekend’s TCS NYC Marathon by Strava has changed our opinion of virtual races. NYRR will allow 500 runners to compete for real finisher medals by logging 26.2 outdoor miles on Strava during the first four days of November. And here’s the kicker, those 500 runners will bypass the 2019 lottery and will be automatically entered into next year’s real marathon.
#HowAboutItBoston?
Minute 2: How do you say “steeplechase” in Italian?
The weather forecast for New York this weekend calls for much drier conditions than what swamped runners in last weekend’s Venice Marathon. High tides and torrential rains washed over portions of the course causing runners to slog through ankle deep water. While times were understandably slower than normal, runners can still humblebrag about finishing what may have been the longest steeplechase in history. The photos in the Washington Post’s account of the race are remarkable. So is the video below from the The Guardian.
#raindelay
Minute 3: Fastest growing HIIT studios
Last week we wrote about the exploding popularity of home work-out systems like Peleton and Mirror. A new review of F45 gyms published today suggests that humans still enjoy working out with other real live humans. (Good for the gym business and good for continued procreation of the human race.) F45 may be the fastest growing functional training gym in the world. With more than 1,000 gyms worldwide and 80 in the U.S., the chain’s popularity is driving growth faster than you can say: “HGH.” Another 275 are projected to open in the next 12 months in the U.S. alone. Participants like the varied functional circuits and High Intensity Interval Training. Check here to see if there is one in your neighborhood yet.
#HIITingItDeep
Minute 4: Halloween candy addictions
We know it’s bad for our teeth and even worse for our love handles, but we can’t seem to keep our hands out of the candy dish on the receptionist’s desk or our kids’ goodie bags later tonight. That’s not just because we lack some will power or crave a quick energy boost. Classic Halloween candy contains an unholy triumvirate that borders on addictive: sugar, fat and salt. Our friends at Well+Good explain how we get tempted along with 6 healthier candy brands if we really can’t just say no.
#unreal
Minute 5: Quick intervals
- Kenyan men continue to push the boundaries of human performance. We wrote last month about the new marathon record of 2:01:39 set in Berlin by Eliud Kipchoge. Now his countryman, Abraham Kiptum, just broke the 8-year-old half marathon record by clocking 58:18 in Spain last weekend. That’s a 4:26 per mile pace. If you can run a lap around the local high school track in under 1:06, just keep that pace up for another 100 laps or so and you’ll set the new record.
- Even if you’re not running New York this weekend, you may enjoy some of the new shoes designs rolled out for the big event. Most of these feature NYC-related graphics and are among the brands’ top performance shoes. Check ‘em out here.
- Speaking of running shoes, controversy continues to swirl around the Nike Vaporfly because some runners complain they are just too darn fast. Eliud Kipchoge wore them to set a new marathon world record in Berlin this month. At issue is a carbon fibre plate inside the shoes that helps to store and release energy with every stride. Strava analysis has shown that the shoe can improve runners’ times by as much as 4%.
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration
Instagram work-out phenomenon Devon Levesque is at it again with another aggressive treadmill video. The last time we posted one of his videos, it generated more views and more feedback from our readers than anything in the history of Six Minute Mile. (What, not everyone has their buddies slam medicine balls into their abs when they step off the treadmill in the gym???) Devon’s latest treadmill work-out is tamer, but may still trigger a “no mas” reaction from some of our fans.
We’re glad to see you’re interested in our content. Check out the Six Minute Mile website or subscribe.