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Lead Stories: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Longer Lower Legs =
More Efficient Running

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Allyson Rosen

Section: News & Results, Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

running stride beginners pace jogging jogger runner People who have longer lower leg lengths (the distance from knee to ankle) will usually have greater endurance during running or walking than those with shorter lower leg lengths.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin showed that people with longer lower legs use less energy when they run (Journal of Human Evolution, August 2007).

In a previous paper in the same journal, these authors showed that people with longer lower legs are better able to prevent heat build-up, which slows you down and makes you tired. When you exercise, almost 80 percent of the energy that you use to power your muscles is lost as heat.
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Vaill, Green win USA
1 Hour Race Walk titles

Posted October 15th, 2007 at 3:15 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results

Teresa Vaill and Mark Green were the respective women’s and men’s winners Sunday at the 2007 USATF 1 Hour Race Walk Championships at the Bentley College track in Waltham, Mass.

A 2004 Olympian and three-time USA 20 km champion, Vaill won the women’s national championship leading from start to finish in walking a total of 12,501 meters within the hour-long time limit. Maria Michta was the runner-up three laps behind Vaill with 11,356m. Diana Rado was third overall, winning the U.S. junior title with 11,254m, with Lauren Forgues finishing fourth overall and second in the junior competition with 11,249 meters.

In winning the men’s title, Mark Green set a pending U.S. masters 50-54 age-group record with his final distance of 12,225 meters. Mike Kazmierczak was the runner-up with 12,094m, with Roberto Vergara winning the junior competition and finishing third overall in walking 11,917 meters.

Paul Johnson, who placed 15th in the men’s competition, set a pending U.S. masters M70-74 record with his measurement of 10,250 meters.
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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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Fitness Tip: Top 7 exercises

Posted May 29th, 2007 at 7:30 AM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

weights The American Council on Exercise (ACE) asked 17,000 ACE-certified Fitness Profressionals to name the one exercise they could not live without.

Their number one choice? Squats. Squats help strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, calves, and quads . . . muscles that we recruit for a variety of sports and everyday activity.

The following round out their top 7 choices:
1. Squats
2. Running
3. Abdominal exercises
4. Lunges
5. Walking
6. Push-ups
7. Yoga

Read the rest at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

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