Dreaded ITBS & the Lands of Badness

...and post-run at Waverley on Saturday, the topic of the dreaded IT band syndrome came up. Thought it might be useful to share my collated notes re. proactive stretches and drills given that I was out with ITB knack for all of March this year and spent a good chunk of time finding info. Pdf can be grabbed here. Includes the quadballer & foam roller stuff plus a set of core excercises that the 'experts' suggest can help prevent injury, not only to the ITB, but also calf, hamstring, etc.

Unrelated, this time last week, I was jogging a few miles through the Badlands in South Dakota. If you're ever out west and want to feel like you're running on the moon, I recommend heading into the semi-arid wastes:

The end of the world as we know it

After this morning's run from Joe Columbus, the conversation drifted, as it does, to the concept of magnetic north. I managed to stun some of my fellow runners with the news that eventually, perhaps even soon, magnetic north was going to shift to magnetic south, a switch that will be pretty chaotic and would probably make a good premise for a disaster movie a la "2012". This was met with a certain degree of skepticism, and to show you that I wasn't making this up, here's the link to the Wikipedia article that explains this phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal.

See, Gabby, this is what happens when you leave us on our own. We finish a beautiful 5-mile run in the park and end up talking about gloom-and-doom science. Come back soon!

London Bound!

Not sure what that's all about, but I found it on the Hash House Harrier's website. It's the drinking and running club started in England. While I admire the sentiment so much, I prefer to drink coffee before a run instead than beer. Not that there's anything wrong with it - what could possibly go wrong when you mix alcohol and speed? - but I am a little old-fashioned and like to be wearing more clothes in respect to the booze.

So, Anthony and I are off to London for Thanksgiving week. Nothing says thank you to the Native Americans for teaching us to a hunt and plant then a pint of Guiness at the factory and a Nose to Tail meal at a local pub!

We'll definitely be running all that fat and beer off, so stay tuned for updates of running in Great Britain.

Team Joe runs are still on, so please run, drink the coffee free and tip the baristas!

I'll also be checking out the coffee scene, including Monmouth Coffee and Flat White.

Cheers!

Manage the Damage [11/19]:

Tomorrow night, Jackrabbit has a special free class on holiday nutrition. Joe coffee will be served as well!

Have you ever longed to take a nutrition class where they told you it was ok to  eat dessert and mashed potatoes?  Then come to our holiday food workshop, where  we cover "healthier" alternatives to traditional holiday cuisine.  Learn about  ingredient substitutions you can make without sacrificing flavor, and which  desserts top our "wholesome" list (and maybe even allow for seconds)! Thursday,  November 19th, 6:30-8pm, Union Square Store. 

ASICS Fun Run NYC!

If you are up early this Saturday, and the following 5 weeks, come by the ASICS store on 42 street!

Whether you’re training or looking to get in shape this season, it’s time to lace up and join us at ASICS Fun Run NYC. Runners of all levels meet to run 3.5 miles at your pace.

It’s free, fun and a great way to meet other runners! Come join us on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM, followed by post-run refreshments and so much more!

Sign up is required: http://www.asicsamerica.com/asicsstoreny/

Going the distance!!!

Good luck to everyone running in the marathon this weekend. . .

And just a little more evidence in support of distance running:


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27well.html?em

Marathon Day!

One of my favorite days of the year. The others: Hallowe'en(the little munchkins in costume), Hanukkah (Latkes, Latkes, Latkes), Christmas(more like Christmas tree envy..it's a Jewish thing). 

Marathon Day!!! The energy in the air is unmistakable. Maybe it's more the stench of 30,000 sweaty bodies than an energy...but to me, those are 30,000 amazing sweaty people. Last year and in 2003, I was one of those people, and I can tell you (or maybe you could tell me) the challenge, the finish, the crowds, the 5 boroughs - all these things make up an amazing day. 

New York spectators are the most important thing to a runner, besides port-a-potties with tp, and this year we will be out there screaming our lungs out for the friends we know (Pooja, Viviana, Tod, Simon, Adam, Christopher Stephens...probably more that I can't remember...), and the friends we haven't met yet.

Here's where and when we will meet: 9 a.m. at Joe Waverly (Free Coffee), we'll take the F-train to 4th ave at 9th street and we will stand on the west side of the street there until 11/11:30.

There may be a pitstop in Chinatown for some dim sum, and then we will squeeze our way into the line at 5th avenue and 110th street, east side of the street from about 1/1:30.

I'm probably wearing running shoes in case I decide to run with someone we know in Brooklyn. 

See you Sunday...and Saturday, of course, for the regular Joe run! 

p.s. those of you interested in signing up for the NYC Triathlon, sign up starts at midnight November 1...I got ready October 31st at 11:59 pm and got in...20 minutes later it was sold out. That means there are a lot of keen and crazy people in the world...