Minute 1: Can Shalane Flanagan repeat in New York Sunday?
Last year, Shalane Flanagan did something no American woman had done in 40 years. She won the TCS New York City Marathon. This year, Shalane will be joined in the chase for the podium by Des Linden. Des Linden, another American woman, pulled off a surprise victory in the 2018 rain-soaked Boston Marathon. The overall women’s winner will receive $100,000 and the top American will receive another $25,000. Both women share their preparation and their lives in the unlikely media spotlight currently shining on U.S. womens’ distance runners. After all, when was the last time you saw kids dress up as an endurance athlete for Halloween, like these adorable girls did this year in their Shalane costumes? This video recap from Shalane’s hometown TV station captured the strength and emotion of her 2017 triumph:
Minute 2: Get leaner & fitter with a couple of nutrition tweaks
“Work out a little more; eat a little smarter.” OK, that’s not exactly material for a Tony Robbins inspirational t-shirt, but that’s basically what we tell ourselves at the start of most weeks. We bookmarked a couple of new stories this week that help in the “eating smarter” category. First, who knew that adding a little cinnamon to our favorite beverage works as an anti-inflammatory which aids fat loss? In a similar vein, taking a Vitamin D supplement can work as an anti-inflammatory as well as controlling fat-storing insulin. We also liked Prevention’s new list of 7 healthy foods that provide a clean energy boost.
#smartfood
Minute 3: What are the most popular running brands?
Competitor Running just released its annual reader survey which tries to understand the motivations, brand preferences and wallets of dedicated runners (4 runs per week on average). Strava was the most popular fitness tracking app. 38% of readers used it compared to 30% for MapMyRun, 11% for Runkeeper and 18% for Fitbit. Brooks was the most popular running shoe brand with Asics, Nike, New Balance and Saucony rounding out the top 5. Oakley was the most popular sunglasses brand (33%). If you really want to geek out on the data, you can download the full report here.
#brandsontherun
Minute 4: Should you run without headphones?
It seems most runners believe their headphones are almost as important as their running shoes. Runner’s World reports that nearly 2/3 of runners plug some form of entertainment into their ears. Music, podcasts and news distract us from the effort to lift and land our feet. That’s good, right? Well, not so fast, writes avid runner and NPR reporter Peter Sagal. Once a religious headphone wearer, Sagal pulled the plug a few years ago. He says he has never been happier on his runs.
If you need evidence that there’s no zealot like a convert, Sagal is Exhibit A. His account published this week in the New York Times explains why it is much better to run earbud-free. He’s a real runner and a gifted writer, who shares gems like: “Our sport seems mindless only to people who never run long enough for any thought to form other than ‘When can I stop running?’ But the only way to succeed as a long-distance runner is to do it mindfully, to be aware of the body and the world it is moving through.”
#canyouhearmenow?
Minute 5: Quick intervals
- Peloton and Mirror are generating terabytes of buzz in the world of high-tech work-out systems, but now a new competitor is emerging. Designed by a Silicon Valley tech engineer, Tonal is using software and an innovative magnetic system to create a digital weight lifting system. The magnets can duplicate the resistance equivalent of 200 pounds of weights. (Without the actual bulk creating a sinkhole in your living room floor, thankfully).
- We are big fans of high impact interval training. Our neighborhood Barry’s Bootcamp is a little bit overpriced, but a lot awesome. A new article in the New York Times describes how even a very brief burst of all-out cardio – as little as 10 or 15 seconds — can provide real benefits.
- Athletigen, a DNA analysis company, is applying advanced genetic science to improving athletic performance. For $199, the company will do a deep dive on an athlete’s DNA and recommend training based on that individual’s propensity for muscle gain, fat retention and sensitivity to legal stimulants.
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration
Did you ever wonder how fast you’d have to run to keep up with a world class marathoner? Right before the Chicago Marathon, Runner’s World set up a huge treadmill. The challenge was for amateur runners to keep pace for as long as they could. The video results are humbling and hilarious.
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