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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dathan Ritzenhein: The Not-So-Casual Life Of A Professional Runner
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)

Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 PM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein! Check back every other Tuesday for Ritz’s latest entry at http://dathanritzenhein.thefinalsprint.com/ as he prepares to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics!

This week I went looking to trade in our truck for a more eco-friendly, family-friendly vehicle. While I thought I found something I liked, it wasn’t quite what my wife had in mind. Apparently a coupe isn’t as practical as a sedan when kids are involved. While we were there I was asked my occupation by the salesman. I always hesitate when answering this question because responding with “professional runner” isn’t a typical, run-of-the-mill occupation. Even here in Eugene, track town, USA, I still get odd looks and unusual responses to that answer. Such as, “You run for fun? What kind of job is that?” or “Wow! You must have a lot of time on your hands if all you do is run!” Well, I thought I would answer that response first by saying, I’m actually very busy, and secondly I will give a common play-by-play of my daily life.
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Dathan Ritzenhein: Keeping That Competitive Edge
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #3)

Posted April 8th, 2008 at 11:45 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Well, my break is officially over, and I’m back in the swing of things. Being an athlete I find myself extremely competitive. I’m especially competitive when I’m not running, but not by choice, it’s just who I am. I think it’s because I’m not outside seeing people, running my old routes, and challenging against myself and the clock in workouts.

During this break I found myself competing against my wife in many things. Luckily she didn’t want to divorce me after this latest break. We have this little game on my phone, bubble breaker that we compete against each other to see who can get the best score.
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Dathan Ritzenhein: Putting Things Into Perspective
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #2)

Posted March 25th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Hayward Field is finally complete and track season has officially started in Eugene! Yesterday my wife, daughter and I spent the afternoon watching the Oregon Preview meet. It was a great day. It was warm and sunny and just so nice to sit in the sun and watch instead of competing. It still amazes me at how much the community of Eugene, Oregon supports track and field. No where else would you find 5,000 fans who turn out for a season opener track meet. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season brings. If this is the turn-out for the preview meet, having the trials here will be unforgettable. It will probably be like the Prefontaine Classic for 10 days straight.

With the trials just around the corner, the town is full of enthusiasm and pride. It really has made me look forward to having the Olympic Trials here in Eugene. Not only did the track get an update, the entire town seems to be sprucing things up as well. The trails are being groomed, new woodchips are being spread, and roads are being resurfaced. We live only a half mile from the Rexius Trail and every day it seems that more and more people are out running or walking on it.
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Dathan Ritzenhein: XC Champs, Alter-G & Olympic Training
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)

Posted March 12th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

This past month has reinforced in me that hard work, dedication, and focus can really pay off. I wouldn’t say that leading up to the US Cross Country Championships I was 100% confident going into the race. My ultimate goal was to just make the team. For the past four weeks my training log resembled something of a rollercoaster. The highs and lows were dictated by the training my leg would allow.

After returning from a cross country race in Edinburgh, Scotland a few weeks ago, I noticed a slight pain in my IT band and lateral quad. At first it was minimal, and I was able to train through it with not problems, but after a grueling week of traveling it began to hinder my training. Fortunately, I had the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill on which to supplement most of my training.
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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

woman running on treadmill 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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Slow it down … take a hike!

Posted July 19th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jessica Galvano

Section: Motivation, Health & Fitness, Exercise

female hiker Life goes by fast.

Sixty miles per hour to the office. Seven miles per hour on the treadmill. Forty-five in a thirty-five to make practice on time. And all after eight cups of coffee.
The jittery, anxiety-inducing schedule of espressos and non-stop “to dos” has, for many, become an accepted inevitability. In a fast-paced society, the natural tendency is to meet the demands of high speeds by downing Red Bull, exceeding speed limits, and attempting to function on a paltry five hours of sleep.

While it may be nearly impossible to control the speed of your work environment, maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable exercise regimen is entirely within reach. Instead of stepping on the treadmill for your usual run, try a hike instead. The texture of an actual trail is, not surprisingly, preferable to a synthetic treadmill and the scenery certainly has more appeal than the cold, gray concrete of the gym.

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

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ASK FLASH: Wind and Native American Indians and Racing?

Posted July 16th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Joshua Flash Gordon

Section: Running & Training, Columns, Training Tips, Ask Flash

Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK FLASH!
ASK FLASH is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK FLASH — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.

man_on_treadmill_thumb Q. Need to get in some repeat 800s tomorrow. What do you think with strong 25-30mph winds? Track or Treadmill?
~ Windstopper from Chicago

A. Seriously?!? Unless there is some risk of power lines or tree limbs striking fury upon your head…ummm, run outside. Or if you have the ability to only race in climate controlled environments than maybe the treadmill would be sufficient?

If you are nervous about how to run in the wind…
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VIDEO: Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes hopes to set world record in Times Square

Posted June 21st, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes tried to break the world record for the most miles run on a treadmill in 24 hours. He made his attempt high above Times Square in New York City on June 21st.

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Slope on treadmills

Posted January 3rd, 2007 at 4:00 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Good treadmills have a lever that raises the front end to simulate running up hills, because running on level ground does not do much to strengthen your upper leg muscles. Running strengthens primarily your lower leg muscles.

You stress your upper leg muscles significantly only when you run up hills. Each one percent increase in the elevation angle on your treadmill requires four percent more energy.
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The 3 Biggest Variables Between Road and Treadmill Running

Posted October 23rd, 2006 at 12:30 PM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

In my opinion, using a 1-2 percent incline to simulate the “wind resistance” created by your body moving forward through the air when running outside is one of the most overblown “theories” in running.