Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 27, 2009
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.
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 27, 2009
I am a woman, I am a runner. Much of my experience being a woman has overlapped with the power I get from being a runner. When I run I feel beautiful, powerful, and real. The pieces of myself that I share throughout the day are all assimilated back into one beautiful tapestry . . . one amazing piece of reality . . . one experience that is mine and mine alone. The physicality of it provides me with a powerful reminder that my body is capable, strong, powerful, and MINE. Every time I run, I make a statement to the world, "I own my action, my body, my thoughts, and my experiences. I am not an object to be sexualized, diminished, or dominated. I am real. I am human. I am spirit manifest within this strong, healthy, and beautiful physical body. Honor that which rests within me."
And this is where Leigh's story hits me.
Leigh is a new Girls on the Run council director. I had the privilege of meeting her at one of our recent Girls on the Run trainings in Charlotte, NC.
Over the course of two days, women from across the nation descend on Charlotte for a two-day, very intense Girls on the Run training. Participants take back tangible tools and systems to efficiently deliver the Girls on the Run program. What remains with me are their stories. Frequently wrapped into and around a woman's story are her struggles in battling our culture's obsession with bodies, sexuality, and power.
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 27, 2009
The cold rain was coming down so hard Alyse Kelly-Jones had almost decided to not run the Ramblin' Rose triathlon in Chapel Hill. That's when she saw the 8-year-old girl and her mother.
"A lot of people didn't even start the race, but she not only started, she finished," Alyse said. "I later found out she also helped another little girl run the race. This little girl acted as a mentor to another little girl and her own mother. I was inspired."
Alyse realized if an 8-year-old girl could help to change lives like that, then surely an obstetrician/gynecologist at Mintview Women's Care with years of experience in triathlons could do the same.
"Every day in my practice I see women, overstressed and downcast, who need a change in their lives. I know these women could benefit from participating in multi-sport training, but I'd never thought about how," Alyse said. "Then I remembered that little girl."
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 27, 2009
Here is an easy pasta dish that can be prepared in no time. The whole wheat pasta and the summer vegetables make this a very healthy alternative to the traditional cream-based primavera. Feel free to vary from the recipe, by adding or omitting your choice of vegetables, and by using whatever type of pasta that you may have lying around in the cupboard. This can be a strictly vegan meal, or it can be mixed with a protein source. It serves up to 8.
Ingredients:
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 27, 2009
If you're looking for your first wetsuit or just a good suit to get you through the early season cold water races, the Orca S2 is the wetsuit for you. Orca is probably better known for their high-end wetsuits, selling for well over $500. Based in New Zealand, Orca has traditionally focused sponsorship on ITU and Olympic triathletes, most of them Australians, Kiwis, or Europeans. It is not surprising then that in the U.S., Orca is not as much a household name as Blue Seventy or Quintana Roo. However, their experience in making wetsuits dates back to the mid-1990s, and they sponsor athletes like Craig Alexander, who won the world 70.3 distance title using an Orca wetsuit during the swim.
Orca actually hit the U.S. market more than 10 years a
go, with sleek looking black wetsuits with some white patterns that resembled those of the killer whale by the same name. The suits performed well, but sizing and fitting were an issue: they seemed to be made only for the lean athlete with 3% body fat. The average age-group athlete had a horrible time getting one of those suits on. Distribution was also a problem, as the suits came from Southeast Asia and the U.S distributor never seemed to be able to fulfill orders in a timely way. Better knowledge of the U.S. market and new relationships has changed all that. The current Orca wetsuit sizes now fit age-group athletes even better than some U.S. competitors, and a distribution partnership with Orbea bikes has ensured prompt availability in the U.S.
The S2 builds on the success of Orca's S1 wetsuit but uses a lighter, more flexible neoprene. It is a no-frills suit, but incredibly functional. It offers all the basic features that are necessary for a swimming wetsuit to work without the gimmicks that are often found in other wetsuits.
The material used is a water-resistant neoprene with a smoothskin outer layer that is durable and yet flexible. Orca uses varying thicknesses in different parts of the suit to achieve the perfect balance between buoyancy and flexibility. Generally, the thicker the material, the more buoyancy it will provide. In turn, the thinner the material, the more flexible it will be. The 5 mm "HydroLift" panels are strategically used on the front and back of the legs as well as front torso to provide outstanding buoyancy and warmth. The 3-mm back offers more flexibility and helps prevent overheating. The 3-mm "Flexiseal" Neck provides flexibility and comfort in an area that can be troublesome for a lot of athletes. Finally, the 3-mm Speed Transition Calf Panel ensures a fast wetsuit removal in transition. This is a nice touch for an entry-level suit. Anyone who has ever watched a triathlon transition knows that it is the novices that have most trouble getting off their wetsuits.
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 24, 2009
With each footfall during running, the chain reaction between our body, the ground, and gravity begins from the ground up. This means that core stability starts at the foot and moves up through the knee, hip, pelvis, and then the spine. If there is a weak link in the chain, stability above that link cannot happen. For example, if the hip is weak, strong abdominals are not enough to compensate. Our abdominals require a stable pelvis to complete their task of keeping us erect while providing rotation of the spine to keep the opposite arm and leg moving forward.
Gluteals are the dominant controlling musculature of the hip. The deeper gluteal muscles (gluteus medius and minimus) control the lateral (side to side) and rotational positioning of the pelvis on top of our legs. By controlling the pelvis, the glutes are also controlling our center of mass. Running is a motion dominated by a forward direction, but it also contains lateral and rotational components. These components are often neglected in training, thus fostering an imbalance and further exploiting any weaknesses. This results in inefficiencies, numerous injuries, or sometimes just the inability to maintain good running form, especially later in a run.
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Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 23, 2009
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus was a popular book released in the early 1990s about the differences, mostly in personality, between men and women. But does this saying need to be applied to the gym setting as well? Are there really big differences between the way men and women need to work out?
The simple answer is yes. Why? Mostly because of the reasons women want and feel they need to exercise-in particular strength training. The top two reasons I've heard women give for working out are: to lose weight and to prevent osteoporosis. When you train for these reasons, the exercises, you must seriously consider the pairings, sets, reps, and intensity you choose to get the most benefit from your time in the gym.
In starting a new exercise plan, I strongly suggest meeting with a trainer or coach to discuss your goals and properly evaluate your needs, even if you plan on implementing the routine by yourself. Trying to supplement your regular walking, jogging, biking, swimming, or other cardio routine is a difficult task while trying to balance a full-time job (that includes child rearing!) and other life challenges. The best chance of success is utilizing a plan that is feasible, both in time and difficulty, and has been formulated by an educated personal trainer.
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Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 22, 2009
We only get one pair. We hope they never go flat. No, I'm not talking about your new tubular race wheels. Of course, I'm talking about your feet. How you care for them now will determine greatly how and if you are able to perform.
Simple Solution #1
Replace your running shoes more often than the recommended 400 miles.
Simple Solution #2
Posted by: Joe Nuss
on Apr 02, 2009
Our mission here at Endurance Magazine isn't to convince you to buy a hybrid car or retrofit your house with solar panels (though at some point in the future you'll certainly want to), but we do realize that adopting a sustainable lifestyle will enable everyone to continue to enjoy the outdoor activities we currently enjoy. Luckily for us, there are lots of cool online carbon footprint calculators to help us assess how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases our individual actions generate, not to mention help us find ways to reduce that pollution we are creating.
