Minute 1: Trolling Tom Brady
“I’m gonna come at you like a spider monkey!” That’s not just a classic line from Talladega Nights, but it’s also the message that NASCAR superstar Jimmie Johnson seems to be sending to Tom Brady. Johnson is entering Patriot’s Nation this weekend to run the Boston Marathon. When a local reporter asked him if he is a better athlete than TB12, Johnson quickly replied: “A tie. I know that won’t play well in Boston.”
Well, Johnson’s right about at least half of that statement. The 500,000 people lining the marathon course on Monday may treat Johnson more like a visiting New York Yankee than the accomplished runner he is. We’ve written before on how Johnson has been known to knock out a 1:34 half marathon the day before winning a race in Daytona. The hyper-competitive driver says he is gunning for a sub-3:00 at Boston. The notoriously slow-footed Brady can’t match that, but his versatility is still legendary around Beantown. Not only does he own 6 Super Bowl rings and 4 Super Bowl MVPs, but he was also drafted by Major League Baseball as a catcher. He even knocked one out of Fenway Park in batting practice a few years ago.
#PatriotGamer
Hey @TomBrady, forget the Expos. The @RedSox love some of that Pesky Pole power. Even @Nomar5 was impressed! pic.twitter.com/YtTcaR1QwS
— NESN (@NESN) April 3, 2019
Minute 2: Playing along at home
If you weren’t lucky enough to snag one of the coveted 30,000 bibs for Boston, there are still ways to participate in the race. A local company called Outside Interactive has created software and video that lets you run the entire route of the Boston Marathon virtually, taking in all of the sights along the route. This is part of a larger trend, spurred in large part by run tracking apps like Strava. You can even use a virtual race on Strava to qualify for the New York Marathon. The New York Times published a piece two weeks ago on the growing trend of virtual racing and challenges that even let runners earn swag like t-shirts and finisher medals. The London Marathon on April 28 is expecting a record number of runners to log their race on Strava, with nearly half of all runners using the app to log their effort. A UK newspaper just chronicled the trend in “Strava: How a GPS App Took Over Your Smartphone and the Capital.”
#IfItAin’tOnStravaItDidn’tHappen
Minute 3: Building leg strength
“I’m an endurance athlete. I don’t need to waste time in the gym on lower body work-outs.” Yeah, that was our attitude for years. We run and bike outside. Who needs a squat rack or leg extension machine where the view never changes? Once the injury bug grabbed us more often with each passing year, however, we began looking for the muscle balance and diversity that we couldn’t get outside. Whether you are a masters runner or a spring chicken, you’ll like this list released last week of “10 Must-Do Strength Exercises for Masters Runners.” If cycling or spinning is more your thing, check out Bicycling magazine’s list of the best 23 leg exercises for riders. While you’re in a cross-training frame of mind, you may also like this list of “11 Essential Yoga Poses for Cyclists” just released this week.
#RunnersPose
Minute 4: Gearing up for spring
Snow has finally melted and early flowers are blooming in the northern half of the U.S. That means Canada geese will begin flapping northward overhead and pale endurance athletes will begin seeking some Vitamin D. As part of the human migration outdoors, here are a few gear recommendations for spring. We like this collection of the Best Swimsuits for Active Women in 2019. And just in time for mud season, here is the Runner’s World list of The 13 Best Trail Running Shoes. Since women seem to prefer running in tights year round these days, the market for running shorts seems increasingly focused on dudes. Here is a list of 13 top running shorts for men.
#retailtherapy
Minute 5: Quick Intervals – Health & Diet
- This year, April is producing more than spring showers and baseball opening day. Useful news on eating better and living longer are springing up like daffodils. Here are a couple of note.
- Researchers have figured out why countries like India and Thailand that love spicy foods have a lower incidence of cancer. The good news for those who like it hot is that eating certain chili peppers has been proven to prevent certain cancers from metastasizing and spreading. Peppers contain a natural ingredient called capsaicin that blocks a protein necessary for metastasis. LIVESTRONG provides a helpful list of 4 peppers that are naturally high in capsaicin.
- We have extolled the virtues of the Mediterranean Diet in the past. What’s not to love about melting excess body fat while sampling one of the world’s tastiest culinary traditions? As if that weren’t enough, a new peer-reviewed study shows that switching to the Mediterranean diet can improve your 5K time by 6%. LIVESTRONG provides a helpful list of 10 Mediterranean Diet Staples You Can Get at Costco.
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration
Desi Linden shocked the running world last year by becoming the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 35 years. Linden showed remarkable grit in overcoming the wettest, nastiest weather the race had seen in decades. Good news for Desi and other runners raised in colder climes – the forecast for Monday calls for weather almost as gnarly as last year. She’ll be trying to repeat, whether or not the weather slows down the field. We love this video of Linden trucking down the Boylston Street to the finish line last year. Makes us shiver just watching her outrun hypothermia on the way to the top of the podium.
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