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Lead Stories: Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Philadelphia Running Group Encourages Homeless

Posted April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Megan Hueter

Section: News & Results, Columns, Health & Fitness, SPOTLIGHT

All too often, the streets of Philadelphia can be marked by homeless individuals whose inspiration stereotypically seem to have been lost in bad decisions, unfortunate circumstances or what some critics unwarrantably call pure laziness. But in the “city of brotherly love,” the homeless are stomping on the stereotypes… with their running shoes. That’s right—they’re joining together to overcome life’s challenges through one of the most self-disciplining sports out there—running.

Back on My Feet is non-profit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of Philadelphia’s homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

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

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Training to Run Faster

Posted February 12th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

If you don’t run very fast in practice, you won’t be able to run very fast in races. The following article is written by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, MD, who explains that jogging will decrease your chances for injury, but will not improve your run time.

At the University of Copenhagen, Danish scientists studied experienced runners who had been running 60 miles a week at a fast pace. One group was told to cut their mileage in half to only 30 miles a week, but to run a series of around 50 to 100 yard dashes as fast as they could. The other group continued running 60 miles a week at a fast pace. Runners who ran fewer miles at a faster pace had a 7 percent improvement in their body’s maximal ability to take in and use oxygen.

To read the full entry, visit our partner publication: HesFit.com

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Athletes and Other Active Individuals Found to Prefer Athletic Doctors

Posted January 16th, 2008 at 3:33 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

People can be very selective about which doctor to seek. Some seek certain specialties, some (actually many of us) seek whatever our insurance will pay for, and some seek whatever is easiest and most convenient in terms of location. But—as an athlete—would you prefer doctor who is personally athletic? A recent article from the NY Times analyzed this exact question.

While it may not be proven that athletic doctors are better for athletes, a study of 4,000 female doctors found that those who are at least moderately active are much more comfortable giving advice about exercise to patients, and their advice would be more meaningful, since the active doctor sets the example about a healthy lifestyle. Athletic doctors are less likely to take off-the-wall conservative approaches to pain, such as, “Running destroys the cartilage in the knees.”

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

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The Great Debate: Treadmill vs. Pavement Running

Posted December 30th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Megan Hueter

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

With the low temperatures and adverse weather, it’s no wonder that many exercisers choose to hibernate and sweat in the gym instead of going out in the elements. But a great debate among all those fit is one of determining which is better: the treadmill or the pavement. When it comes to the winter season, research points positives and negatives in both directions.

The reason the treadmill feels “easier” on the body is because the ground is actually being pulled underneath your feet (meaning, your feet are not pulling your body forward, as they would if you were running outside), AND there are no other factors such as wind resistance.

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

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Supplements and Absorption

Posted December 1st, 2007 at 7:00 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Nutrition, Supplements

One concern that some individuals have when it comes to their supplement routine is making sure that what they are taking is being absorbed effectively. You’ve likely heard that getting your nutrition from real foods is often better than taking it in pill form, and this is a big reason why. Generally the body will absorb nutrients slightly better when it comes from food because this is how mother nature intended it.

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

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If You Don’t Snooze, You Lose: The Importance of Sleep

Posted November 29th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: Health & Fitness

Sleep - it’s one of our nation’s favorite pastimes. Sometimes nothing feels better than throwing a blanket over yourself, burying your face in your pillow, and settling down for a nice, long slumber. But as enjoyable as this nocturnal activity is, millions of Americans are seriously missing out on the fun.

Over 60 million individuals in our society suffer from some type of sleeping disorder, and more than half of these people are men. Unfortunately, lack of sleep can have a myriad of consequences on our minds and bodies.

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

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Preventing Muscle Soreness

Posted November 28th, 2007 at 7:22 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

Anytime you place an overloading stimulus on the muscle tissue (such as when you lift heavy weights), you are going to create tiny little tears in the muscle that basically are breaking down the fibres. When given rest, the muscles will rebuild themselves, growing back stronger so they can be more resilient in the future.

Along with this muscle tearing process, one thing that is often experienced by individuals is a tendency to feel some muscular soreness about a day or so after heavy lifting or strong cardio workouts. While you do not need to feel muscular soreness in order for it to have been a good workout, the two are often experienced together.

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

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Winter Survival Guide: Dressing for Cold-Weather Exercise

Posted November 24th, 2007 at 1:35 PM by Julie R. Keen

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Apparel, Miscellaneous, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

The temperature is finally dropping, Daylight Saving Time has ended, and Christmas decorations are filling the local drug and retail stores. Short of joining a gym and running on the treadmill like a gerbil trapped in a cage, what is an avid exerciser to do?

If you like to snowshoe, cross-country ski, or just keep running in the cold weather, you should follow these steps to ensure safe outside exercise as the temperature plunges.

1) Drink Extra Fluids - Many different companies now make wearable hydration packs [i.e. - Camelbak, Fuelbelt, etc] that resemble small backpacks and contain a fluid reservoir as well as belts that have several small, bottles scattered around the exterior. This allows you to keep your hands free (to hold ski poles, if that’s what you do) and you can stay hydrated while exercising. They also give you a place to stash those extra clothes when you get warm.

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

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Tips for Healthy Eating on Thanksgiving

Posted November 21st, 2007 at 4:36 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating

Do you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner has over 2000 calories?

If you’re not careful, Thanksgiving could be the beginning of a downhill roller coaster of weight gain from Thanksgiving all the way through the Christmas season. If you’re trying to watch your weight gain this Thursday . . .

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

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Consistent Exercise Through the Years is Key to Stability

Posted November 12th, 2007 at 3:20 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

Slacking off can have devastating effects on your weight. Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine stated last week that maintaining a high level of activity from young adulthood to middle age can help people maintain a stable weight and accumulate less weight over time.

Northwestern conducted an analysis about weight gain and found that people who report doing 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day were twice as likely to have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) over a period of 20 years.

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

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