TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Sunday, October 12, 2008

Got Cramps?
Check Your Salt Intake

Posted August 31st, 2007 at 8:10 AM by Katie Drummond

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Nutrition, Hydration, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

The most common cause of muscle cramps in exercisers is lack of salt, according to a report from the University of Oklahoma (Sports Medicine, April-May 2007).

The authors cite studies of tennis and football players showing that crampers tend to be salty sweaters, and of triathletes who cramp losing more salt during a race than peers who did not cramp. They found that intravenous saline can reverse cramping, and that more salt in the diet or in sports drinks can help to prevent heat cramping.

Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

Comment on this post | Permalink

Impact of extreme weather conditions on marathon running performances

Posted May 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Training Tips

In general, marathon races are among the most physiologically demanding endurance events in the world with runners competing for a distance of 42 kilometers (26.2 miles). (3,6) Competitive marathon runners often maintain a pace equaling 70-90% of their VO2max (max output) for over two hours. (6) Both biological and environmental factors affect the thermoregulatory balance in marathon runners.

Marathon races are considered mass participation events, and heat injuries occur in less extreme conditions. When running in closer proximity to other runners, it has been reported that the physiological heat stress is three times more straining on the body compared to someone running solo in identical weather conditions. (6) As mentioned earlier biological and environmental factors play a role in maintaining thermoregulatory balance in marathon runners. Biological factors such as dehydration, metabolic rate and gender limit thermoregulatory control. (3)
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

Heart Health and Marathon Running: Preparation is Key

Posted February 13th, 2007 at 3:02 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

The risk of death from coronary heart disease is decreased almost two-fold in physically active people. Regular exercise has beneficial effects on blood pressure, lipid profile (fats in the body), insulin resistance (ability to break down sugar to use for energy), and overall decreased risk of death.

However, prolonged exercise (such as a marathon running) is hard for the body to endure, especially the heart. The risk of a cardiac event is there, as indicated by dozens of emergency crews present at various intervals of an event such as the Boston Marathon. A 2006 study shows that heart damage from a marathon is significantly related to inadequate training and preparation; a problem seen in some amateur marathon runners.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

This New Year’s Resolution:
A Healthy Heart

Posted January 1st, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Megan Hueter

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

Eat too much this holiday season? You’re most likely not alone. However, eating too much on a daily basis takes a toll on your body, especially your heart. Make this New Year’s resolution a healthy one for you and your family.

You can start by checking out some different online opportunities, including the Discovery Health Channel’s National Body Challenge, and the American Heart Association’s Choose to Move program.

Programs such as these have been established due to chronic public health problems in the United States associated with poor diet and lack of physical activity. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for all people in the United States, currently affecting nearly 12 million people.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Is my New Year’s resolution to get in shape worth the effort?

Posted December 29th, 2006 at 12:00 PM by Martha Jones

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

Being out-of-shape is almost as strong a risk factor for a heart attack as smoking. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (December 21, 2005) shows that being out-of-shape markedly increases your risk for being fat, storing most of your fat in your belly, having a high bad LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure, and having low levels of the good HDL cholesterol.

We live in a society in which 91 percent of the population develops high blood pressure, 78 percent will have high cholesterol, and 35 percent are diabetic. More than 50 percent of us die of heart attacks and strokes from these risk factors. Doctors no longer think of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes as just being due to our genes. We now consider these diseases to be caused by our behavior.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Type 2 Diabetes: How diet and exercise could save your life (PART 4)

Posted December 20th, 2006 at 2:05 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

This is the final installment of a four part series. Part 4 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes and the Benefits of Resistance Training”.

Attention type 2 diabetics: studies show that adding resistance training to your exercise program can enhance its benefits and improve insulin control. With a total change in lifestyle (through education about type 2 diabetes, adherence to a strict diet, aerobic exercise and resistance training) you can restore you body’s sugar to a non-diabetic level.

The treatment goal for type 2 diabetic individuals is to achieve and maintain near to normal blood sugar levels and optimal fat levels in the body. With exercise the body becomes less resistant to insulin. Aerobic exercise is commonly prescribed.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Type 2 Diabetes: How diet and exercise could save your life (PART 3)

Posted December 13th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Megan Hueter

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

This is the third installment of a four part series. Part 3 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes: How Aerobic Exercise Can Save Your Life “.

Attention Type 2 diabetics: studies show that a change in lifestyle can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic level. Understanding how this happens could save your life.

The treatment goal for type 2 diabetic individuals is to achieve and maintain near to normal blood sugar levels and optimal fat levels in the body. With exercise the body becomes less resistant to insulin. Therefore, aerobic exercise is a very effective treatment modality and is commonly prescribed.
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

Study: Exercise can lower your sensitivity to salt

Posted December 7th, 2006 at 2:31 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Excessive intake of salt causes high blood pressure in some, but not all, people. High blood pressure increases risk for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage.

Why do some people develop high blood pressure when they take in a lot of salt, while others do not?

A recent study from the University of Minnesota shows that middle-aged people who start an exercise program lose their tendency to develop high blood pressure when they take in extra salt (Journal of Human Hypertension, May 2006).
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Energy Drinks: To drink or not to drink? That is the question . . .

Posted November 17th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Health & Fitness

Energy drinks are quickly becoming our favorite weapon for dealing with our fast-paced and stressful lives. They are convenient, work well and can even taste great. As a matter of fact, Red Bull and other energy drinks have become a true savior for those among us who dislike the taste of coffee, but who also could use that extra boost from caffeine. With all of the “natural” ingredients that the energy drink companies have added to their beverages - won’t we gain energy and become healthier at the same time? Unfortunately . . . (Brace Yourself!) . . . the answer is . . . NO!

Suzanne Farrell, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, believes that there is no substantial evidence proving that the ingredients in energy drinks actually do what the manufacturers advertise them to do. In addition, the caffeine and sugar intakes from these products can be detrimental to your health. Read the rest of this entry »

3 comments, add yours | Permalink

Caffeine and Endurance

Posted November 16th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: Running & Training, Nutrition, Health & Fitness

We have reported in the past, that it might be best to hold off on the coffee, or other sources of caffeine, until your after your run. However, we have posted this article, hesitantly, to at least inform you of the recent studies that have found caffeine to increase endurance. Just remember that although caffeine can produce the positive effects discussed below, there are many possible dangers and moderation is key.

[Studies have shown] that caffeinated drinks increase endurance during long events such as a marathon, triathlon [or cycling events]. A study from the University of Birmingham in England shows that caffeine helps the body use more carbohydrates from drinks that you take during exercise (Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2006). Those who took sugared drinks with caffeine were able to absorb and use 26 percent more of the ingested sugar than those who took the same drinks without caffeine. Read the rest of this entry »

3 comments, add yours | Permalink