Coffee + Running = Love and Better Running

Okay, the Coffee and Love thing may be b.s, although I met my fiance while running in the coffee house team...but, for those of you who missed this article last year, click on the link to read about how coffee (caffeine, really), improves your workout.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/health/nutrition/26best.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=caffeine&st=cse

Here's a small snippet:

"Exercise physiologists have studied caffeine’s effects in nearly every iteration: Does it help sprinters? Marathon runners? Cyclists? Rowers? Swimmers? Athletes whose sports involve stopping and starting like tennis players? The answers are yes and yes and yes and yes".

I know some people are wary about drinking coffee before a run. Maybe they will need to "use the bathroom", or have stomach cramps. My advice to them, drink some coffee early enough to digest and have to "use the bathroom" before your run. Anyone who runs races, especially long ones, knows that you must "expell" before the race starts. Once you've done a couple dozen races, you will no longer be squeamish about talking or reading about expelling. I apologize to those who haven't gotten to that point and are squeamish now, reading this...

The point is this: get the benefits of the caffeine AND the quick expellation (Not a word, I know), and then have the Best Run Of Your Life. Especially when I am offering it you free at the Team Joe runs (no pun intended) every weekend.

Cheers

Heaven Is NYC Today!

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I love this weather. It's currently 63 degrees and sunny. It hardly gets better for running weather. I went today and yesterday, and will try to run every single nice day. Based on the forecast, my next day of rest will be next Monday.

I may have to break out my running shorts tomorrow. I hope people will forgive my pasty swarthy skin tone and all the black and blue spots on my legs: I tend to walk into furniture.

This weather makes me sign up for too many races. So far, I am in for the Scotland 10K April 3rd, The Healthy Kidney 10K May 15th, and the Brooklyn Half May 22nd.

I know, I know....I promised last year that I would NEVER ever run the Brooklyn half again. I also said it the year before when I ran it. I guess I am an oath breaker....

oh well..

Scotland 10K

Now that we have our first Scotswoman to call our own on Team Joe, Mrs. Laura Gwilliam, we will proudly will be running the Scotland 10K April 2nd!

http://www.nyrr.org/races/2010/r0403x00.asp

We actually ran it last year and I think the year before, but now we ARE Scottish, sort of!

The Scottish people are a great people. They have added so much to the world. Some of my favorites are Scotch whiskey, especially Balvenie, Haggis, men wearing kilts, and bag pipes.

More about Scotland's great history if you click on the Wiki link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland

Speed Socializing

I truly cannot believe how cold this winter has been! It's been so so hard to get out of bed lately. Running early during the week? Out. Getting up on Saturdays to join my Team Joe friends...?

Well, that's the joy of running with a team. I would NEVER get out there alone. In fact, I almost never run alone anymore. It's just too bleak and chilly. And after going alone for the first 10 years I was running, I just got bored with music and my own dull thoughts.

Team Joe still gets me out the door on the weekend. I consider it the height of multi-tasking to exercise and socialize at the same time. Think of all the time we would save if while we were running, we were also having a staff meeting, shopping at Whole Foods, getting our nails done! It could put new meaning in the concept of Speed Dating (if you can catch me, you can have my number). But alas, my ideas will have to remain ahead of their times, and I will stick to my basic version of multi-tasting.

Anyway, I will be seeing you, probably jumping over drifts of snow from tomorrow's storm, Saturday at 10 a.m. from the new and much-improved Waverly Joe. Sunday at 10 a.m. at Columbus Ave. Joe.

Run For Haiti

Lysa, Anthony and I all signed up for this NYRRC race. Join us! All the money is to be donated to reputable aid organizations. It's a whopping $40, but for a good cause.

Without preaching, I just want to say that yes, we all gave when the initial destruction hit Haiti, as we did for the Tsunami and countless other tragedies. However, it will be years before Haiti is rebuilt, so we need to continue to give when we can. Thus the race.

Plus, I bet there will be good t-shirts! And it's a qualifying race.

9a.m. February 20th in Central Park.

Concert February 4th

Virgil Thomson: A Portrait In Song
Mary Thorne, Soprano
Elizabeth Hastings, Piano

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
1 pm
Concerts At One
Trinity Wall Street Church
(Broadway at Wall Street)

I am singing a wonderful program of art songs reflecting the musical life of composer Virgil Thomson. Songs by Bowles, Cage, Citkowitz, Copland, Hundley, Rorem, Satie, Wheeler, and Virgil Thomson.

If you work downtown this will make a wonderful lunch break or if you can't get away from the office you can listen to it on webcast. No tickets necessary, a donation can be made at the door.

How the Marathon became 26.2 miles

Ever wondered why the marathon distance is 26.2 miles (or 42.195 kms)?

Originally the marathon distance was around 25 miles (or 40kms).

But for the 1908 London Olympics, it ended up being 26.2 miles.

Here's a brief summary I found on wikipedia:

For the official Trial Marathon on 25 April 1908, the start was on ‘The Long Walk’ – a magnificent avenue leading up to Windsor Castle. For the Olympic Marathon itself the start was on the private East Terrace of Windsor Castle, with the permission of King Edward VII, so that the public would not interfere with the start. Shortly before the Games opened it was realized that the Royal Entrance could not be used as the marathon entrance—it was raised to permit easy descent by the royal party from their carriages, and did not open onto the track—so an alternative entrance was chosen, diagonally opposite the Royal Box. A special path was made just outside the Franco British Exhibition ground so that the distance to the stadium remained 26 miles.

The finishing line was left unchanged, but in order that the spectators, including Queen Alexandra, could have the best view of the final yards, the direction of running was changed to "right-hand inside" (i.e. clockwise) and the total distance became 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).

Why the history lesson?

Gabby and I recently went to Windsor, and of course, as a runner (and especially for Gabby as a marathon finisher), it wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Long Walk. For those of you who run marathons, as you run past the 26 mile marker and curse as you run another 0.2 miles, you now know it was all so that the royal family could get the best view.