I spent a weekend in Colorado Springs this month with our event director, Thys (pronounced like “rice”—only faster). We were attending a USAT Race Director Symposium, and after a few too many hours in conference rooms we headed out for an afternoon run. We made our way over to an unofficial trail that runs up the Mt. Manitou Springs Incline—an old incline railway that has been turned into a trail that climbs 2,100 vertical feet in the distance of a mile.
The view from the bottom was daunting, but at least you could see the top (so we thought). We headed up and I quickly realized this was going to be not a run, but a hike—and a grueling one at that. At 8,000 feet the air felt so thin in my not-yet-acclimatized lungs that the pain of the effort felt like I had a piano on my chest. A distance that normally would take less than 8 minutes took 45 and left everything I had along the rocks and shattered railway.
If you’ve been putting off running because you think it’s hard on your joints, you’ve got one less excuse. According to the September 2009 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch, the famed Framingham study conducted between 1993 and 2005 found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. In fact, the most active people in this study were shown to have the same risk of arthritis as the least active. A separate Australian study went one step further to prove that people who performed the most vigorous weight-bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest knee cartilage. In 2008, another study, which compared runners to non-runners, found little evidence that exercise causes arthritis. So what are you waiting for? Lace up those sneakers!
Posted by: Joe Nuss in Endurance Magazine on
Jul 29, 2009
By Joe Nuss When the weather turns hot here in North Carolina, it's best to find a nice pool and kick up your swimming a notch. If you are like most triathletes, you have probably put off joining a masters team for far too long since you don't think it's all that important in a race anyway. Well, the low-impact and cardiovascular benefits of swimming are far too beneficial to overlook, not to mention the fact that masters will make you faster. When it comes to a sprint triathlon, every second counts, so check out our Getting Started article on swimming and how to hook-up with a masters team.
Another favorite way North Carolinians choose to keep cool is to head to the mountains. While on average (based on my highly scientific research on weather.com and some conversations with people who live in the Blue Ridge Mountains) the temperature is about 10 degrees cooler in the mountains, which are far too beautiful to overlook when you live this close. Like the many old textile and tobacco barons used to do, use the summer heat as an excuse to pack up and head to the mountains.
In one of our features, "Bike, Bites, & Brews", freelance writer Rob Lamme gives you the basics in planning your own mountain biking bash. With an emphasis on good eats, homemade brew, and not-too-technical but still epic trails (for all the triathletes and runners out there), you're sure to find a reason to dust off that mountain bike and head west.
By Brandon McDearis
Many of you probably already know who Alex McDonald is. Alex moved to NC last year after completing medical school and his full-time gig is now as a professional triathlete for Timex - something most of us can only dream about. Alex is obviously known for being fast (2007 IM Lake Placid winner, 2007 & 2008 Duke Half IM winner, etc.), but he's also a super nice guy. Most age-groupers know Alex as the "fast guy that cheers for everyone as he's winning the race." I received an email from Alex today, and thought I'd share it with you. It gives you an idea of how hard these guys train, how fast they are, what sort of opportunities come their way, and unfortunately what kinds of obstacles they must overcome to stay on top of their game.
After a great start to the season at Ironman California 70.3 I entered 4 week block of very heavy training. I was training 30-35hrs each week, averaging about 20k in the pool, 350 miles on the bike and 60 miles of running. I was certainly tired by the end yet I focused on proper recovery and nutrition before and after every workout and my body responded well to the training stress.
At the beginning of April I then entered a heavy racing block. I began with a local race in North Carolina, the White Lake 1/2 where I had a great race, but a flat tire caused me to miss first place by just 30 seconds. None the less it was a great mental practice to stay calm and continue to move forwards in the face of adversity. A week later I raced at Ironman Florida 70.3 at Disney world which was a great venue. At this race I lost focus for a few minutes at the start of the swim which cost me a few minutes and I was playing catch up all day. Despite the depth of the competition I knew with a better swim I could have had a top ten finish. Lesson learned and I will certainly make sure to avoid such loss of focus in the future. Then 3 weeks later I made the trip to Middlebury CT to race at the inaugural Rev3. My goal race for the first part of the season was Ironman Coeur d'Alene, just 2 weeks later, so I did not give myself much rest prior to this race and entered it more as a learning experience and practice race. However, a week before Rev3 I was training pretty hard and my hip flexor began to cause me some pain while running. I had rested it yet it was still very painful to run. I had diagnosed myself with tendonitis of the hip flexor, but you are never supposed to diagnose yourself, so I went to a sport medicine doctor. My diagnosis was correct and rest was really the only option. As a result Rev3 became a swim and bike race for me and I had decided not to risk further injury by challenging myself on the run course. At the Rev3 I definitely felt the affects if racing 5 half Ironman in just 5 weeks along with heavy training leading up to IM Coeur d'Alene and felt very flat and fatigued during the race, so I treated it as a last heavy training day before I taper for IM Coeur d'Alene.
This past friday, a little over a week before IM Coeur d'Alene I tried running again, having not done so for almost 2 weeks. After a through warm up, I began to jog lightly and immediately the pain returned. At that point I began to worry that I might not be ready to race an Ironman a week later. After a conversation with my massage therapist, my wife (she's a doctor also) and my coach I decided that I would not be racing. A best case scenario would be a sub-par performance and further injury to my hip which would possibly persist for the rest of the season. Instead I decided to focus all my energy on healing and set my sights on Ironman Lake Placid at the end of July. Having trained and race on that course numerous time, including winning the race in 2007 I certainly have some positive memories and energy associated with Lake Placid.
Although this injury is very frustrating and has interrupted my plan for the first half of the season I know that this is the best decision which will allow me to emerge stronger and faster. Please take a look at my website and blog for all the details www.alexmmtri.com
Lastly, I I have been asked to serve on the newly formed Timex Performance Center Advisory Board for the NY Giants new training facility in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. As a professional triathelte, physician and ambassador for the sport this is a tremendous opportunity. A one of the four member advisory board I will collaborate with world class orthopeadists, sport trainers and NY GIant atheltes to bring new ideas to the sports of American Football and endurance sports. Although the board is still in it's infancy and constantly evolving we plan to meet quarterly to develop new and exciting technologies as well as training methodologies. This is an excellent opportunity as an athlete and physician about which I am very excited.
Thank you again for your support and I hope to continue as a contributor to Endurance Magazine.
Alex McDonald
www.alexmmtri.com
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In three words, tell us: WHY DO YOU DO IT?
That's how we sought to find the reasons why women who read Endurance Magazine run, bike, swim, or go to the gym. You'll find many of the answers printed on the cover of this issue and more inside next to the pictures of just a few of the interesting women who responded to our survey.
Coming from women as old as 14 and as young as 80, the responses were enlightening, humorous, inspirational and in some cases, no different from men's reasons for engaging in the Endurance Lifestyle. But while we weren't too surprised to see the competitive spirit in women just like men, we were surprised to discover just how many women truly are the "Healthcare CEO" of their family.
The winner of the first annual Uwharrie 20-Mile Mountain Run "Battle of the Beards" contest will be determined by the total score of the following 3 categories.
1. FINISH TIME (Thys "The Terror" Wind has the advantage.)
Based on official time rounded off the nearest minute.
3:00 or faster = 10 pts
3:01-3:15 = 9 pts
3:16-3:45 = 8 pts
3:46-4:15 = 7 pts
4:16-4:45 = 6 pts
4:46 or slower = 5 pts
2. BEARD LENGTH (Certain to be a hard-fought battle between Joe "Tridaddy" Nuss and "Squonk" from the Trailheads).
Measured by Joe at the chin on race day. Note: the average beard grows 1/2 inch per month
"pubescent" (less than 1/4 inch) = 4 pts
"manly" (1/4-1/2 inch) = 6 pts
"grizzly" (1/2-1 inch) = 8 pts
"HOLY mountain man!" (greater than 1 inch) = 10 pts
3. BLOG COMMENTS (Steve "GQ Money" has the advantage.)
Photos will be posted right here on the Endurance Mag blog and we're counting on you to respond. Be sure to mention a name so one of us gets credit for the points.
comments made by male readers = 1 pt/comment
comments made by female reader = 2 pts/comment
IN CASE OF A TIE:
Chances are that the margin of victory in the inaugural Battle of the Beards will be "razor thin." After all, we are Endurance Magazine. In the unlikely case of a tie, however, we will defer to the lovely ladies in our studio to decide who will win. Tamara, Casey, Mandy, Lisa, Courtney, and Rachel will be asked to cast a vote. This is perhaps where the fullness of the beard comes into play, so think twice before you go crazy with the beard groomer.
May the best man win!
Hundreds of thousands of readers have experienced the intensity of Endurance Magazine's award-winning editorial... now it's your turn to witness the intensity of the men* behind the magazine as they engage in the ultimate 20-mile trail running experience in a way you've never seen BEFORE ...
BATTLE OF THE BEARDS - Uwharrie Edition
Who will grow the gruffest, gnarliest, nastiest beard for the 2009 Uwharrie Mountain Run?
Posted by: Joe Nuss in Gear, Endurance Magazine on
Dec 01, 2008
I may not need the Helium 2 Fuel Belt or custom Oakley's Terenzo Bozzone (cover) wore on his record-breaking assault on the Clearwater 70.3 Ironman in early November, but I certainly want them. Marketing gurus have long since realized that celebrity status sells products. So, reading about the 23-year-old Bozzone smashing Andy Potts' record at Clearwater record by more than two minutes with an amazing 3:40:10 finish, it's no doubt that a triathlete like me would want the same products Bozzone uses. Of course, I realize I will never be as fast as Bozzone, but the same cool gear that is available to him, is also available to me and you.
To find out the scoop on the latest and best gear, we talked to our local connections this past month to help compile a "Gear Guide" for our readers and "gear geeks" like me. They joined in to give us a list of smokin' bikes, the latest running shoes, and just about everything else that's cool in gear, which we duly present to you as genuine five-star holiday wish list items.
So, as your race seasons come to an end this winter and you look to re-stock and re-vamp your gear for 2009, check out our "Gear Guide". You'll also want to check out our tips for eating whatever you want this holiday without fear of gaining weight. But don't worry, if you fail to heed our advice and decide to enjoy a few holiday treats, we've got you covered with our winter cycling maintenance plan to keep you primed for a spectacular summer season on your bike - a bike you just might pick from our list inside!
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 - DURHAM, NC - Endurance Magazine, the premier regional resource for healthy lifestyles, has been awarded the 2008 National Award for Editorial Excellence from the Association of Running Publications. Out of 34 regional publications across the country, North Carolina-based Endurance Magazine and its editorial staff, led by Managing Editor Joe Nuss, was recognized for its perpetually creative and inspiring editorial and production style. Complemented by world-class photography by Tamara Lackey Photography, and innovative visual design by 8dot Graphics (both based in North Carolina), Endurance Magazine breaks through traditional health and fitness content paradigms by connecting real-world lifestyles with real-world people who take on extraordinary challenges. "Our mix of immediately useful content and life-enriching personal connections helps us reach out to new readers with each issue" says Publisher and founder Steve Lackey. "Over the years we have found our creative niche and have been able to inspire and motivate all types of people across our region. As more people learn about Endurance Magazine from beyond North Carolina, our subscription requests from other states have grown".
When asked what makes Endurance Magazine so popular with such a broad audience, Nuss explains, "Endurance Magazine is blessed with an amazing community of people willing to share their own passionate narratives about endurance sports. Our emphasis on storytelling, design and photography, with the sport itself as merely a backdrop, enables us to explore the universally relevant themes of physical and emotional triumph in attempt to bring together everyone from elite athletes to those that have never before laced up a pair of running shoes (but think they might want to some day)."
