Run For

RunFor Talks EarBuds (and Clips)!

StaceyK — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:38:00 GMT

With the recent trend of treadmill running in this heat, the Ipod has made it’s reappearance into my training routine. I’ve become a pretty social runner between Walt and running groups so the Ipod has been gathering dust although at times, I miss my the music dearly. So, back to the treadmill…..I didn’t realize how much I didn’t like my earbuds. They slipped out constantly and wobbled and it made me wonder how I ever managed to finish a run with them. Scouting the...(read more)

RunFor Stays Cool In This Miserable Heat!

StaceyK — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:22:00 GMT

July is the reason I dread signing up for Fall races. Training for my October event means that I am logging some serious miles in 75+ degree temperatures or on the treadmill. I'm honestly not sure which is the lesser evil some days. So for everyone logging runs in this steamy, sweaty runheat, here are some tips on staying cool: Try a Badwater Bandanna - Created at the Badwater Ultramarathon, this involves laying the bandanna out in a diamond shape. Place a row of ice cubes in a horizontal line...(read more)

RunFor Talks Coconut Water!

StaceyK — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:40:00 GMT

If there has to be an up side to running in the heat, it's the smoothie treat that I get after my weekend long run. This past weekend, it was a necessity. We got started on our run late and it was a balmy (insert sarcasm here) 92 degrees when we finished so we headed to Carolina Smoothies for our recovery drink. And when we got there, I got a little education in supplemental juices that runners should include in their diets. First off, my friend had me try carrot juice (a slightly odd tasting...(read more)

RunFor Talks Tums!

StaceyK — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:56:00 GMT

Ah acid reflux, my nemesis has returned. J While I can normally go through any given week and never have a problem, there is something about running that makes me want to reach for the Tums. So for anyone else dealing with this, here’s some information. The technical name for this side effect of running as I call it is running-related gastroesophageal reflux. So we call it GER or if you add the word disease at the end, GERD. I don’t consider it a disease so I’m a GER girl. Common...(read more)

RunFor Talks College!

StaceyK — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:00:00 GMT

While sometimes running as a hobby can feel like I’m earning post-graduate degrees (one in nutrition, one in sports medicine, one in psychology), I’ve never heard of running as part of a curriculum until this course. Kinesiology 4501 is offered at LSU and it studies the physiology of endurance training. While many colleges offer kinesiology (the science of human movement) and have students studying athletes, Professor Laura K. Stewart has students lace up and put their knowledge into...(read more)

RunFor Talks About Running Less?

StaceyK — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:23:00 GMT

With a race about 15 weeks away and my running in a bit of a rut with the heat and vacations knocking me off schedule, I’ve been looking around for a training plan to get me ready for the Kansas City Marathon on October 16. A friend of mine training for the Kiawah Island Marathon (which I will probably be joining him on) recommended a new type of training plan, the FIRST program. Short for the Furman Institute of Running & Strategic Training, the training program promotes a strategy of...(read more)

RunFor Talks Pikermi!

StaceyK — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:24:00 GMT

In a search of a half-marathon to add to the calendar, I was a little surprised to find many "mini-marathons" listed. I'm not sure if race organizers are trying to make the distance less intimidating or if they just like the semi-alliteration of the term, but I have to say....I don't like the term. I find it a little condascending to be honest as I think that half a marathon sounds much more impressive than a mini-marathon. Mini makes me think of sprints or of the races you had...(read more)

RunFor Talks Manners!

StaceyK — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:16:00 GMT

I would like to start by saying that I'm sure that everyone reading this displays proper running etiquette so in no way is this a lecture. I'm just putting this out there in hopes that some of the people who I share sidewalks with in this world will somehow hear them. So in honor of the fact that I took an elbow from a fellow runner this morning, I'm just going to share some running etiquette tips. Run against traffic if running on the road. If running on the sidewalk or multi-use trails...(read more)

RunFor Goes A Little Nuts!

StaceyK — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:32:00 GMT

A friend of mine gives me a little too much grief about my eating almonds or walnuts every day. She constantly tells me that if I stopped eating so many then I wouldn't have to keep running to keep the weight off. So this post is an attempt to explain to her that nuts have an unfair reputation of being too high in fat and calories and that we, as runners, shouldn't necessarily avoid them. These yummy, crunchy treats are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are good for our...(read more)

RunTalk Gets Muddy!

StaceyK — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:37:00 GMT

It might be the only race you do that actually hopes for rain! Mud Runs are fun and challenging and are popping up all over the US. For those of you who haven't seen one, it's a run course with professionaly built obstacles and multiple mud pits for the runners to work their way through. Styled after basic-training exercises, this is a race where you might spend just as much time on your belly as on your feet. Here are some great mud runs to check out! 2010 Marine Mud Run - Knoxville, TN...(read more)

RunFor Talks Twilight!

StaceyK — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:35:00 GMT

No, not that Twilight. I'm talking about one of the joys of summertime - the twilight 5ks! Taking advantage of longer days, these 5ks are becoming more and more popular. Not only are the race organizers taking advantage of cooler nightime weather, but they are also creating a fun atmosphere for the runners. There's something about running at night that makes the races get a little more party-like. Maybe it's because most of them are on weekend nights or maybe a lot of us are running so...(read more)

RunFor Talks Hiking!

StaceyK — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:03:00 GMT

Summer brings with it a return to nature as more and more of us head outdoors to enjoy the sunny days. Hiking is a popular recreational sport for many of us but as we hit the trails, it’s important to remember that hiking is not the same as a walk around the block. Some trails can be very strenuous on the body and might cause issues for your running. Also, sometimes people tend to hike longer than they might normally run in a given day when following a trail to the end. Common hiking injuries...(read more)

RunFor Talks Gardening! (Seriously, it's running-related)

StaceyK — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:22:00 GMT

In my overzealousness and determination to stop paying for overpriced veggies at my grocery store, I went a little nuts planting our veggies last weekend. Aside from the back and shoulder pain that comes with working in the clay soil of the South, there is now an annoying and aggravating knee pain that I’ve never dealt with before. Sometimes called “gardener’s knee” or “housemaid’s knee”, prepatellar bursitis is a common cause of swelling and pain on top...(read more)

RunFor Hits The Sand!

StaceyK — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:04:00 GMT

In honor of the end of the beach-centric Lost television series or in honor of the many beach vacations coming up (29 days and counting!) or even in honor of the famous slo-mo Baywatch montage that we all dream of recreating, let’s talk about running on sand. There are great benefits to taking some time from your vacation to get a good run on the beach. Running on sand is less stressful on the body and actually burns 1.6 times more calories per mile because it requires more energy to run on...(read more)

RunFor Talks Speed Exercises!

StaceyK — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:23:00 GMT

While most of us have incorporated speed workouts into our running, there are also a set of stationary exercises that runner can benefit from to increase their speed. As the weather gets hotter and muggier here in the South, I'm going to focus more on these strength workouts and a little bit less on the speed drills. Call me a wimp but with our string of bad air quality days, I'm opting for some less strenuous workouts for the next couple of months. By studying freeze frame video clips of...(read more)

RunFor Talks Mother Earth!

StaceyK — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:17:00 GMT

So this might have been more appropriate for Earth Day but I was intrigued by what made the Big Sur Half Marathon certified “green” gold. Environmental awareness is spreading to industries throughout the US and the sporting industry is no different. It seems like a natural progression though. I mean, think about the waste generated on race courses. We use huge amounts of energy powering timing mats and sound systems. I hate to admit how much of my goody bag items end up in the trash....(read more)

RunFor Has A Hangover!

StaceyK — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:33:00 GMT

I won't go into many details about my celebration of Cinco de Mayo but today just seemed like a good day to talk about running with a hangover. Most medical experts generally consider running after a night of drinking a bad idea but thousands of runners will probably disagree. Just look at the number of New Year morning runs that have people burning off their hangovers. Even though you might feel horrible, getting your blood moving and sweating out some toxins from the night before just might...(read more)

RunFor Loves Slushies!

StaceyK — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:22:00 GMT

And no, I'm not talking about a Big Gulp from 7-11. Researchers in New Zealand have determined that drinking an ice slushie before exercising extended a runner's endurance by an average of 10 minutes. That's great to hear for all of us signed up for a handful of 5ks in the upcoming months. The slushie and its icy icy goodness help in pre-cooling the body on hot summer days. When we run on hot days, our body has to divert blood flow from the working muscles to the skin to help cool us...(read more)

RunFor Runs For Charity!

StaceyK — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:30:00 GMT

I can't believe that I posted a entire race summary and forgot to make mention of my favorite charity running program, Team In Training ! The purple was out in full force at the DerbyFest Marathon along with their coaches and cheering sections! For a few miles I paced with a TNT participant wearing her Team Survivor singlet - she was a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor running her 2nd event with the Team to raise money to find a cure. I get a little emotional on the course when I see the TNT'rs...(read more)

RunFor Talks Louisville DerbyFest!

StaceyK — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:40:00 GMT

Galloping our way through Louisville.... The weekend, of course, was full of a surprises. I went into the Louisville DerbyFest with a little trepidation. A work obligation had sprung up forcing me to stay in town on Friday until late afternoon which meant there was no chance to grab my packet, explore the expo (and I love expos!) or settle in for a good night’s sleep. It also stressed me that the race organizers were so difficult to get a hold of. I had issues registering for the race and while...(read more)

RunFor Talks Anti-Boston!

StaceyK — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:14:00 GMT

I never would have thought of it but apparently there is a bit of a Boston backlash. As running becomes more and more popular, there are more and more people that can proudly say "I qualified." Unfortunately qualifying doesn't necessarily mean registered - there is a strict registration cap of 26,700 runners. But even if you don't make the registration, there is still a reason to head to the Northeast on Boston Marathon weekend. The Exeter Marathon in Rhode Island was organized...(read more)

RunFor Talks Boston!

StaceyK — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:46:00 GMT

So what else would we talk about this week than Boston? Before I even started running seriously, I knew about the Boston Marathon. I knew that it was the pinnacle of running success, the race that every serious runner must cross off their list. I knew that the day my Uncle Dale qualified was a day that we celebrated much like a graduation or birthday in the family. But I was still at a loss for words when my husband asked me the other day, "What's the big deal about the Boston Marathon?"...(read more)

RunFor Fuels Up!

StaceyK — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:46:00 GMT

I must confess that I’ve always wanted to be one of those do-it-yourselfer’s. You know, grow my own veggies and re-tile my own bathroom and knit some sweaters. But at some point between work and writing and training, I manage to lose track of my days and proposed activities. Thank goodness for farmer’s markets, husbands and Anthropologie. So I was intrigued when I came across this article on Making Your Own Homemade Energy Gel . They make a good point that after a while, the drawer...(read more)

RunFor Is Dealing With Cramps!

StaceyK — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:10:00 GMT

Well for the first time in a very long time, I had some nasty cramping on a long run. Not sure why it happened but 8 miles in and I could barely stand on my own two legs and was hobbling like a runner who just qualified for Boston (although I was sadly much much slower). While I’m used to some side cramps of late as I’m increasing my pace, the legs took me by surprise. Walt, however, was perfectly fine and kicked my butt on the run. Not only did she manage to finish her 12 miles but she...(read more)

RunFor Is Sweaty!

StaceyK — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:30:00 GMT

It seems that my part of the world has decided to skip spring and head straight into summer with temps up in the 90s this week. After a run earlier this week, I tasted nothing but salt when I showered and realized that what I had lost had not been replaced. I was a bad runner and neglected to put out a water stop. Instead I chose to "tough it out" and that was not a smart thing to do, especially considering my sweat rate. We all have a personal sweat rate that helps us determine how much...(read more)