Minute 1: Catfishing for new PRs
We are big fans of MTV’s Catfish. Yeah, so, what does that have to do with a running and fitness newsletter? Well it turns out that the show’s co-host, Nev Schulman, is actually an avid runner who cracked 3 hours in the NYC Marathon last November. And it also turns out that the admiration is mutual. Nev’s agent called us a few weeks ago to say that Nev is a fan of Six Minute Mile. We blushed briefly and then immediately asked for an interview. Nev’s agent foolishly obliged. We finally connected with Nev last week and found him to be thoughtful and passionate about running and fitness. Our interview touches on everything from training as a dancer to politics to thoughts on the Boston Marathon. (Spoiler alert: good chance he’ll run Boston in 2020.) You can check out our full interview with Nev here.
#exclusive
Minute 2: Green medicine
If you want to live a longer and happier life, power down your devices and step outside. Researchers in Denmark just published one of the largest studies in history on the positive effects of kids spending time outdoors. The data showed a stunning 55% lower incidence of mental health issues among adults who had spent a significant amount of time in parks and natural settings as kids. And the more time they’d spent outside, the greater the benefit.
“If we were talking about a new medicine that had this kind of effect the buzz would be huge,” said Kelly Lambert, a neuroscientist at the University of Richmond. “But these results suggest that being able to go for a walk in the park as a kid is just as impactful.” These findings match a new program in Scotland in which doctors are literally writing a prescription for certain patients to spend time outside. CNN describes the program and cites additional research that women living near green spaces improve mental health and longevity.
#Take2greeniesandcallmeinthemorning
Minute 3: Spring collection
Spring comes slowly to our beloved Boston, but even here in the land of chowdah and potholes, it’s about time to stash our tights and expose our pasty white legs to some fresh air. If you want to upgrade your running shorts, take a look at this list of the Best 6 Running Shorts for Men from Gear Junkie. We like this compilation because it offers a range of price points and expands beyond the usual suspects of brands. Verywell Fit just released its list of The 7 Best Running Shorts for Women of 2019. While mornings remain chilly all spring, we often find ourselves in a shorts/jacket combo. Now is a good time to grab some deals on running jackets as brands and retailers try to clear out their inventory. Check out our list of the Top 13 Running Jackets for men and women.
#shortsandsweat #mymorningjacket
Minute 4: Planks vs. crunches
Kids and kale are a lot like adults and an ab work-out. The victim knows it’s good for them, but that doesn’t mean they have to love it. So if you’re going to suffer through a core work-out, what is a better use of your time, planks or crunches? Several good sources recently have cast their votes for planks. Les Mills just published a new article citing research that planks are 20-30% more effective at activating core muscle groups. Last week Bicycling gave planks a thumbs up and noted that you can even do them while binge-watching Netflix. They offer up 8 Core-Crushing Plank Variations that Will Fire Up Your Abs. For a slightly simpler version, we like Self magazine’s 5-Minute Plank Workout. #TakeASixPackToTheBeach
Minute 5: Is lemon water really all that good for you?
Hollywood waifs and top endurance athletes alike have touted the benefits of drinking liters of lemon water every day. The theory is that our bodies are too acidic and lemon water can actually make our systems more alkaline. This simple beverage is also touted as thwarting cancer and reducing inflammation. While there’s really nothing bad about drinking lemon water, you shouldn’t get your hopes up that it will boost your health. Medium just published a thoughtful piece titled: Lemon Water Is a Total Waste of Time.
#whenlifegivesyoulemons
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration
Our new bestie, Nev Schulman, puts out some pretty good life and fitness content on his social media channels. We enjoyed his Instagram post on breaking 3 hours in the NYC Marathon last year. It captured his joy without being too braggy. We also liked his take on a visit to another Instagrammer we follow, Fit Men Cook. Apparently he went in looking for a free healthy meal and wound up getting crushed on some waist-high box jumps.
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