Running While Traveling

As a runner, sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with a training schedule, especially if you travel a lot for work or when you go on vacation. I am reminded of a recent vacation I took that was about a month before a half-marathon that I had been training for. I knew that I was going to have to get a few runs in during my trip or I would negate the training I had been doing for the past 2 months.

The tricky thing about this trip was that it was a cruise to Alaska. I wasn't comfortable running outside because of the extreme wilderness in the area (honestly I was afraid I would be eaten by a bear or something crazy like that), so I knew my only option would be to run on the treadmills in the workout facility onboard the cruise ship. To my surprise it is actually quite challenging to run on a treadmill while the boat is rocking back and forth. My body was not used to this motion and I started to feel very tired and a little sea sick after about 2 miles. During the course of the week-long cruise every time I tried to run, I could only get up to about 2 or 3 miles before my body would give up.

As you can tell from my story, running on vacation or in any location away from home can be challenging but sometimes you just have to run to keep up with your training schedule. Running in different locations can be very fun and refreshing. As many runners will attest to, it can get very boring running the same 3 or 4 routes around your home. Therefore when you get the chance to run while traveling, make sure you take the opportunity.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when running in unfamiliar places. First, always put safety first. You never know how safe an area is that you may be running in while traveling so make sure that you are either running with someone or have a cell phone with you while running in case of an emergency. It is also smart to run during daylight and in areas where public assistance is available. Second, make sure you know what kind of weather to expect. If you are from Houston, Texas and you go to Seattle on a trip and decide to go for a run outside then you better have some extra layers of water proof clothing on or you may end up with some nasty blisters from one of the most rainy cities in America.

The most important thing to remember when running while traveling is to play it safe. You may feel the urge to get out there and run in a new environment but make sure you are prepared. Running in new places can be a great adventure if done cautiously.

Running With Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects a person’s blood glucose levels which may lead to a large array of complications. According to the American Diabetes Association over 23.6 million Americans or 8% of the US population has Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes, also known as adult-onset, is the most common form of diabetes and most commonly occurs in adults who are overweight. One of the recommendations given to type 2 diabetes patients is to watch their diets and exercise in order to control their weight. Since running is a sport that does not require much coordination, is relatively inexpensive, and is accessible to everyone, it is a popular choice for diabetics to try and get their bodies into the healthiest shape they can.

If you have Type 1 diabetes then you rely on insulin injections in order to convert glucose into energy to get you through the day. Running with Type 1 Diabetes can be very tricky, but it is definitely do-able and beneficial. The trick to running with Type 1 Diabetes is making sure that you have enough energy, or insulin, to sustain you through the entire run. You will want to ask your physician how long of a run they advise.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, then your body either does not have enough insulin or the cells do not recognize insulin properly. Therefore these people require that they regulate their diets so that they have the optimal amount of glucose in their systems. If you are a runner that has Type 2 Diabetes then you might have to bring extra little energy packs with you on long runs as well as your blood glucose meter to make sure that your blood glucose levels are being sustained throughout your run. Again, for the best advice on what levels of running are safe for you if you are suffering from type 2 diabetes, consult your physician.

Diabetes is a disease that is becoming an epidemic due to our increasing sedentary lifestyle and the increasing number of people who are acquiring this disease. Running is a great option for people with diabetes to get into the best shape they can to help manage their diabetes. The key thing to remember is that when you run, your body is working much harder than in your normal daily activity. Your blood glucose levels will have to be strictly monitored to ensure you stay as healthy as possible.

How To Push Yourself Through a Tough Run

As a runner you realize that some days you have good runs where you feel strong, fast, and ready to take on the miles. You also realize that other days you feel as if you can’t go on after only the first mile of a 4 mile run and you are battling with your mind to stop. After years of running and battling through tough runs, I have figured out some ways to help push through those days where you feel like you can’t go on.

First, if you are battling through a run because your muscles and body ache then stop for a good stretch in the middle of your run. This will give you time to take a breather and to stretch out muscles that are probably the cause of your body aches. You may even get a better stretch after your muscles are warmed up.

Second, if you are having a tough time getting through a run because your mind is making you feel like you are tired then instead of stopping completely, play the "corner game." Run a block to a corner then walk to the next corner, and then run to the next, and so on and so forth. Even though you are not running straight through you are still moving through the entire distance which is better than completely stopping.

Third, sometimes self motivation can go a long way. If you are having a hard time, tell yourself out loud that you can do it. This may sound silly, but running is definitely a mind over matter sport and this helps to trick your mind into thinking that you really are fine and can keep going on. Studies have proven that self-encouragement by talking yourself through a hard run works well.

There are many little tricks out there that people use to help them push through those tough runs. Whether it is stretching, walking for awhile, or self motivation anything that helps to get you a little farther through a tough run is worth a try. If a hard run just becomes too much and you decide to stop, don't beat yourself up over it. If you are outside and you stop, then enjoy the walk home. Try and speed walk to keep your muscles moving. No one says that running is easy but with training and experience, you will learn what tricks help to make you push on.

Celebrities Run Too...Have You Seen One?

Running truly is a universal sport that almost anyone can participate in because of its minimal coordination requirements and low cost of participation. It is a great way to lose weight and to stay in shape. For this reason, many celebrities are also runners. Since watching every move that celebrities make has become increasingly popular in the past decade, I guess it makes sense that people are also keeping track of which celebrities have been seen jogging in LA or running marathons throughout the world. Wikipedia has even created a page of notable people who have finished a marathon. You shouldn't be surprised if you see a celebrity at one of your marathons, half marathons, or charity events.

Not only do celebrities participate in the races themselves, but they are also becoming more active in sponsoring and promoting charity runs in order to allow the races to get more publicity. Many celebrities raise millions of dollars to be seen racing in a marathon. This is exactly what Sean “P. Diddy” Combs did when he ran in the New York Marathon, raising over 2 million dollars to donate to the New York School System. Personally I think it is great when celebrities use their fame to give back by sponsoring charity events.

A new thing that many people have now become interested in is trying to beat celebrity marathon times to see who they compare to. Some of the more notable celebrities that have run marathons are below with their times and location of run:

Will Ferrell, 2003 Boston Marathon (3:56:12)

George W. Bush, 1993 Houston Marathon (3:44:52)

Lance Armstrong, 2006 (2:59:36) and 2007 (2:46:43) New York City Marathon

Sean Combs (P. Diddy) 2003 New York City Marathon (4:14:54)

Oprah Winfrey, 1994 Marine Corps Marathon (4:29:15)

Katie Holmes, 2007 New York City Marathon (5:29:58)

Although the fascination with celebrity lifestyles has been at an all time high in recent years, one thing can be said for sure about this select group of people. Many are runners, have completed marathons, have sponsored runs, and have raised millions for charities by running. All and all celebrities have become a big factor in the running world.