Race Review: Great Urban Race - Miami

Running should be fun. In the spirit of that idea Veronica and I signed up for the Great Urban Challenge, a race similar to the Amazing Race. Teams of 2 are given 12 clues at the start of the race - clues that lead to different locations around the city, each with different challenges to complete. Each team had to complete 11 clues (1 skip) in any order and return to the finish as quickly as possible.

Great Urban Race

Pre-Run Stretching

Have you ever seen a cheetah stretch before it chases it’s prey?

Last night I decided to get out for a run with a different running group for a change. A bigger group than I usually run with, with a few faster runners. Before the run I looked on in mild amusement as I watched 100 plus runners participated in a pre-run stretch routine. Glancing around the group I could tell who some of the more serious runners were – they were milling around the outside watching the others stretch. WHAT?? Why were the “serious” runners not stretching? Well, if you’re still stretching before your runs you’re working on some outdated and potentially wrong information.

A plethora (thank you Three Amigos) of recent research has shown that, if done correctly, stretching does not help to prevent injury. However, in worse case scenarios, stretching done incorrectly can CAUSE injury, so really it seems there’s nothing to gain from stretching pre-run.

Saunas can help increase endurance performance

It turns out that there may be some benefits to running in Miami in the summer... A study done back in '06 showed that spending time in a sauna post exercise may help increase endurance performance. The study, involving 6 male distance runners, found and almost 2% increase in performance after 3 weeks of sauna use. The conclusion of the study was that 3 weeks of post-exercise sauna bathing produced a worthwhile enhancement of endurance running performance, probably by increasing blood volume.

While the heat in the sauna may be slightly higher (194 degrees F) than what we usually have in Miami, the heat training we're forced to do during the Miami summers may have some endurance benefits as well.  I've already witnessed this phenomena this year when lining up for a race thinking the weather couldn't be more perfect and hearing another runner complain about how hot and humid it was.  It's all about what you're used to and ready for...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16877041

Born To Be A Trail Runner

Fantastic article in yesterday's New York Times. It's by Christopher Mcdougall (Born to Run) and talks about trail running, ultra running and the revolution and commercialization the ultra running world is seeing. I highly recommend reading it if you have a moment.


http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/born-to-be-a-trail-runner/

Haile Gebrselassie running in Vienna Half

Vienna City Half Marathon event organizers have confirmed that the marathon world record holder will be racing through the streets of Vienna come April 15.

Gabrselassie retired after dropping out of the New York City Marathon last fall only to recant that retirement a week later (take that Brett Farve) and run in a 10k in his native Ethiopia.  He was forced to drop out of the Tokyo marathon earlier this year because of a knee injury, but believes he's ready for the half in April.

http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=524660.html

Japanese Earthquake Relief Donations

Well, if you live in the civilized world and have access to the Internet (and that would be anyone reading this) you've seen a ton of coverage on the Japanese earthquake earlier this week.  I lived in Japan 8 years growing up and still have a number of friends either in Japan or with family still living there so I've been watching what they've been going through...  Unfortunately when you do a news search on the earthquake several of the top recent hits are warnings about charitable fund frauds (who does that??)

So, here is an excerpt from the American School In Japan Alumni new letter with some information about donations to help avoid the frauds and make sure the support goes to those in need.

Many ASIJ alumni have contacted us asking “How can I help?” Aid organizations have advised that what is most needed at this time is financial donations. There will surely come a point in which physical goods and manpower is needed to rebuild the affected areas in the north of Japan. However, at this point the situation is changing daily and professional emergency relief teams need financial support to get the goods they determine are needed on the ground and to continue their operations. ASIJ has been analyzing the best options and below are the ways we ask you to help:

From Japan

Donations to The Red Cross Japan
(http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html)

Donations to a group fund for NGOs working in disaster releif including Doctors Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity [Japanese only]
(http://www.janic.org/bokin/matomete14.php)

Donations through Citibank bank transfer
(http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/customernotices/customernoticesindex/customernoticepages/cust_031211_01.html)


From Outside Japan

Donations to the Red Cross fund for Japan
(http://www.redcross.org/)
*Donations can also be made through iTunes

Donations to Doctor's Without Borders fund for Japan
(http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate)

Donations to NGO funds through Paypal
(https://www.paypal-donations.com/pp-charity/web.us/campaign.jsp?cid=-12)

Donations through Global Giving
(http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/ or by texting JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10. The donation will be added to your next cell phone bill)

Donations to International Medical Corps
(https://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1967 or by calling (800) 481-4462. You can also text MED to 80888 to donate $10, which will be added to your next cellphone bill)

Run & Race Tip #5 - Never Look Back

Never look back during a race. For most short distance competitive runners this is a well known rule.  This may have less bearing in longer distance running, when you’re running for hours you will of course be curious as to who’s running near you. You may just be looking back to see who might be coming to run with you…   In long races this tip should be taken into consideration, but in half marathons and under this should be pretty much a stead fast rule.

Back when I was running cross country I used to love seeing someone look back. I saw it as a sign of weakness, as soon as he looked back I knew he was scared, which meant he was starting to struggle. When I caught someone looking back it was such a mental surge, I was stronger than my prey and I could track them down easily.