Ah, it’s January, and you know what that means: This year you’re going to stick to your goal of dropping a dress size, putting on some muscle, start waking up at 5AM to run… every day. Why does it seem that each year your goals stay the same, but yet you never seem to hit them?
Features
Parkour Primer
You probably already know what it is, but may not recognize the name. If you’ve seen James Bond’s opening foot chase in the film Casino Royale, or Nike and Xbox commercials featuring urban acrobatics while on the run, then you’ve seen parkour.
Ultramarathon Musings
I’m writing this as I wait for my flight back home to Port Angeles, Washington after the most incredible, painful, exciting, amazing, physical experience of my life—The Lean Horse 100 ultramarathon in South Dakota. The guys who trained me describe 100-mile trail running as living a lifetime of emotions in a weekend, and I was not let down.
You Can Do 26.2—Part IV
Congratulations! If you have completed Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 of my 14-Week Marathon Training Program, you’ve worked very hard and inevitably pushed yourself to a new level of fitness. Your
You Can Do 26.2—Part III
At this point in your quest to conquer most people’s ultimate running challenge, you’ve undoubtedly logged some solid hours and tough miles out on the road. It’s very common for runners to question the rationale for even wanting to complete such an event. So when the training gets tough and it doesn’t seem like you can push yourself any further, remember the words of famed distance runner Patti Sue Plummer: “Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.”
The Case for Carbs
To be, or not to be…gluten-free. That seems to be the dietary question of the day. Going to a gluten-free diet is gaining ground fast, and for many, it’s a necessity. But some may be confused as to what gluten is and mistakenly try to eliminate carbs altogether. As the body needs carbohydrates, it’s important to differentiate between the various types and how the body processes these. Or, as in the case with gluten, how some bodies do not.
October’s Race Showcase
Fall is no time to drop the ball when it comes to getting out there and getting it done. And what better way to enjoy harvest season’s festive air than by reaping the bodily benefits of these runs and rides.
November’s Race Showcase
This month, several highly-awaited races and events promise rewards to all who partcipate. And while there are many worthy candidates for consideration, here’s our vote:
You Can Do 26.2—Part II
The Marathon distance was originally instituted in commemoration of the fabled soldier Pheidippides. Legend has it that right after the Greek soldier was done fighting in the battle of Marathon, he set off running from the battlefield to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated. It is said that he ran the entire distance (26.2 miles) without stopping, burst into the assembly and exclaimed, “we have won,” before collapsing and dying!
Need for Speed
Fastpacking’s Rapid Rise
A toothbrush weighs 0.4 ounces. If you break that toothbrush in half, it weighs 0.3 ounces. How do I know this? I’ve done it. Why? Because I needed to carry said toothbrush 2,184 miles along the Appalachian Trail, and on a journey like that, every 0.1 ounce counts. While these minimalist measures may seem a bit obsessive to most, it’s what fuels a growing number of folks who fastpack.