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Lead Stories: Monday, October 13, 2008

Nick Symmonds: 2008 . . .
. . . It’s Finally Here!
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #3)

Posted December 31st, 2007 at 4:56 PM by Nick Symmonds

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. For more information about Nick please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com

Well, it is December 31st and it is a momentous day for me for several reasons.

First of all, I turned 24 yesterday. Normally birthdays come and go for me and I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about them. While I certainly don’t feel old I am realizing that my body is almost fully matured and I am starting to enter the years that male middle distance runners typically peak. I’ve begun to notice that I get out of shape much faster than I used to, but also that I get back into shape faster; a rare combination of a slower metabolism and legs that have run thousands of miles.

This is also a huge day for me because it is New Year’s Eve. Tomorrow I will return to Eugene and will begin the process of sharpening up for the indoor season. My first race is in 26 days and I want to start the season out with a big win in Boston. But first, I will enjoy New Year’s like everyone else; one last hurrah before 2008!
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Low Bone Density: A Serious Risk Factor for Athletes

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 5:20 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

A University of Missouri study suggests that athletic men may be at risk for low bone density. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “osteoporosis affects more than 2 million men in the United States and nearly 12 million more have osteopenia– clinically significant low bone density that is less severe than osteoporosis.” The study now suggests that men who engage in low-impact forms of exercise have a higher incidence of osteopenia.

Pamela Hinton, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Missouri’s College of Human Environmental Sciences claims that “Regular, non-weight-bearing activities, such as swimming and cycling are effective measures for preventing the leading risk factors for death and disability in our society, but the results of this study suggest that regular weight-bearing activities, such as running, jogging, or rope jumping, are important for the maintenance of healthy bones.”

Read the rest of this article by new, staff writer Denise Musumeci via our partner site: HesFit.com

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Studies: Older exercisers recover as fast as children

Posted February 5th, 2007 at 9:45 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

As lifelong exercisers age, they find they can’t hit a tennis ball or golf ball as hard, run as fast, lift as heavy, or perform as well, whatever their sport. A study from Yokohama City University in Japan shows that this gradual decline is caused by loss of muscle strength.

However, the most significant finding of the study was that older men can recover from hard workouts as quickly as younger men (Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, June 2006). Another encouraging study in the same journal, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, shows that men over 60 who exercise regularly are far stronger than their non-exercising counterparts.
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