Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

I’ve written plenty about the sports drinks now lining grocery shelves. Runners in particular seem drawn to the drinks—especially in the summer heat and humidity that are so trashing my runs in Chicago this month. But I’m still turned off by those pricey, neon-colored drinks. Fortunately, Runner’s World has suggested some natural alternatives.

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Last year, I wrote about an easy way to carry your emergency contact information—the Road ID. It’s a secure, light-weight shoe attachment that provides all of the information you would want on you if you have an accident. I’ve been wearing a Road ID on my running shoe for several years, but I always wondered whether a first responder would even notice it there. Now I know.

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A strong core is critical for fast, efficient running. According to Fitness, runners who did the following four times weekly cut a minute off their 5K times in six weeks.

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After yesterday’s post extolling the motivational virtues of Nike+, it’s a good time to bring you up-to-date on the upgrades the product has undergone since my first review of Nike+ last year.

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It’s been almost a year since I reviewed my first Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, and I’m as hooked on it as ever. So much so that I bought a new one while out of town last week because my runs just weren’t the same without it. A recent article in Wired shows that I’m not the only one who feels this way. And now Nike has rolled out some upgrades, making the product even more addicting for number-crunching runners.

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Many runners are ramping up their mileages in anticipation of longer distance races, which can often lead to injuries. To ward off injuries and keep yourself on the road, check out Runner’s World‘’s rundown of common ailments and how to prevent them. It covers the spectrum, including patellofemoral pain syndrome, iliotibial-band syndrome, shin splints and tendinitis.

I’ve been in Chicago for about 10 days now, and it didn’t take long to realize that my ability to run in serious heat and humidity has dropped pretty significantly. I’ve gotten spoiled with the pleasant and non-extreme weather in Santa Monica. But I figure that once I get re-acclimated here, running back home will be a piece of cake. In the meantime, Runner’s World suggests three options for staying cool while running in the heat.

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I’ve written before about some of the good reasons to run, like preventing middle-aged spread, protecting your eyes and reducing the risk of diabetes. Now Women’s Health has compiled its own list of reasons to start running.

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I recently linked to a good article about some of the potential drawbacks of training with a charity to run a marathon. Lots of first-timers use the programs, but more and more newbies and veteran runners are conquering marathons with the run-walk approach.

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It’s National Running Day! Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know about it (or buy me a gift)—this is the inaugural holiday. But what’s it all about and how can you celebrate?

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