Category: exercise

Categories
exercise Health

Running for Fun

As a runner, there are many fantastic opportunities to participate in run events all over the world.  My favorite event as a runner is by far The Color Run 5K, where dressed in white, you run through a color station at every 1K mark.  By the time you finish, your pristine white running clothes look like they’ve barely survived an explosion at a crayon factory, and you’ll have powdered color in places one shouldn’t have powdered color.

The Color Run 5K, and its sibling, Color Me Rad tour dozens of major cities.  Other popular fun runs are Zombie/Vampire themed 5Ks (do you want to run as a zombie, vampire, or human?), the Hot Chocolate 5K, and the Glo Run.

The cost of registering for these popular 5Ks will run you a little more than the average 5K registration, but for an untimed event, close to home, that you can choose to walk or run, your money will probably be well spent.  And oh, by the way, you’ll also be exercising your body – especially if you decide to train yourself to run the event.

Half marathons have been gaining in popularity in recent years, and when you’re ready to up the ante, there are of plenty of fun run half marathons to suit.  RunDisney seems to have set the bar for the fun long distance event, with its series of seven separate distance events over the course of the calendar year.  Events are held in Disney’s Florida and California locations, where runners are cheered on by Disney characters and performance groups, and surrounded by other runners who may well be running in Disney-themed running attire.  I personally hope to someday tackle the Epcot Wine & Dine Half, where the race starts at 10pm, and finishes at a runner’s only after-midnight party hosted at the Epcot Food and Wine festival.  Not a bad way to unwind after 13.1 miles!

There are many fun runs out there for recreational runners who like to set training goals, but also have a good time.  Active.com is a great resource for finding local, national, and global events, and the 2013 season is just getting started.  Go have some fun!

Jennifer is a recreational runner living in a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC.  She writes about running for health and fitness at Terrapin Crossing.

Categories
exercise Health

Get Moving!

I’d wager that for many, the winter weather has been a major culprit in letting go of New Year’s resolutions to make 2013 a healthy and fit year.  Fortunately, this excuse is just about over.  With the arrival of spring, there is little reason not to get outside and get moving!

My outdoor activity of choice is running.  For me, there are few better ways to enjoy fresh air, socialize with other running friends, and get an incredible workout.

As a recreational runner, I am frequently asked about the best way to start a beginning runner’s program.  I firmly believe that anyone is capable of completing a learn-to-walk or run program, provided they take it slow and steady.  All you really need is a good plan, motivation, and commitment to see it through!*

Thinking about getting started?  Check out these resources:

  •  Jeff Galloway’s 5K Training Plan:  This is the easiest and most gentle 5K plan I have ever come across.  In my opinion, it is superior to the popular Couch-to-5K plan, ideally suited for anyone who hasn’t been active in a while, or is looking for a less intense introduction to the sport.
  •  Active.com’s Running Shoe Guide for Dummies:  Runners have all manner of opinion on what constitutes the best footwear (if any) for running.  Largely a matter of personal preference, but the bottom line is you should at the very least be aware of your options.
 * If you haven’t been active for a while, or you have known medical conditions, you should always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

 

Jennifer is a recreational runner living in a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC.  She writes about running for health and fitness at Terrapin Crossing.

Categories
exercise Healthcare

Research: Physical Exercise Is Great For The Aging Brain

l If you want to protect your brain against the effects of aging, a brisk daily walk may do more for you than brain teaser puzzles or social activities, a new study finds.

Researchers with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, studying nearly 700 people in their early 70s, found that those who were most physically active had less brain shrinkage than those who got less exercise. At the same time, social and intellectually challenging activities, like going to the museum, learning a new language or visiting friends, seemed to have no protective effect on brain changes.

“Those who took more exercise had less brain atrophy, less damage to the wiring of the brain, and greater volumes of grey matter, which are the ‘thinking’ cells. We did not find any associations between being more socially or intellectually engaged and brain health,” says study author Alan Gow, a senior research fellow at the University of Edinburgh.

The research, published in the journal Neurology, is part of a long-term study on aging that involves a group of participants born in 1936. Those involved in this study were given brain MRI scans at age 73. They also filled out questionnaires about their physical activity, ranking it on a six-point scale from ” moving only in connection with necessary (household) chores” to “keep fit/heavy exercise or competitive sport several times per week” and rated how often they participated in 15 different leisure activities.

While researchers wrote that exercise seemed to protect against brain shrinkage, they added that it’s still unclear exactly how. Is exercise really protective, or is that those experiencing cognitive decline are less likely to exercise? While Gow stops short of recommending exactly how much exercise is best for brain health, Paul Thompson, professor of neurology at UCLA’s School of Medicine, says any exercise increases the oxygen level of blood, and that may keep brain tissues healthier. “It’s not necessary to run or even lift weights. Walking is just as effective. The bulk of the evidence is really just calories burned.”

r/t AARP

Categories
exercise Politics

Breaking News: Men, Too Much Television Will Reduce Your Sperm Count

See! I told you. It’s time to get your ass off your seat and run, not walk, run to the gym.

Here’s some news that may cause men to drop the remote controls and hit the gym: Excessive TV watching and a sedentary lifestyle has been linked to lower sperm counts, according to a study published Monday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Researchers in the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed 189 healthy men between the ages of 18 and 22, and noted the number of hours per week they exercised, as well number of hours per week they watched TV, videos, or DVDs, over the past three months.

The results? The men who were the most physically active, and spent 15 hours or more exercising each week, had the highest sperm counts. In fact, this group’s sperm count was 73 percent higher than that of the group who exercised the least, BBC Health reports. Additionally, men who spent 20 hours per week or more in front the boob tube had a sperm count 44 percent lower than those who spent little time in front of the TV. The study was a relatively small one, but it echoes a tip that works for our overall health and, apparently, for sperm counts, too. “My advice would be everything in moderation,” Allan Pacey, head of andrology for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in the United Kingdom, told BBC. “And that includes time in the gym as well as watching TV.”

Exit mobile version