I just came across this interesting fact about New York City Marathon in the NY times.
In 1977, Wesley Paul, a child from Columbia became the youngest person ever to complete the New York City Marathon with an incredible time of 3:00:37. In the early years of the race several children competed.
Paul still ran a 2:38 personal best at 15, in the Houston Marathon. By the age of 16 he had 40 marathon under his belt.
At 16 he fractured his knee when a car backed into him while he was running. He never recovered!
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Columbia, Houston Marathon, Interesting Fact, New York City, New York City Marathon, Ny Times, Nyc Marathon, Wesley Paul, York City Marathon
From the back of a T-shirt at 1993 NYC marathon
I may be slow but I am faster than you.
The best T-shirt I have ever heard about was from a friend, who while struggling to a 6+-hour NYC marathon finish, had to laugh when passed at around 24 miles by by a runner, the back of whose T-shirt read,
“Now You’re Last!”
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Funny Quotes, Funny Shirts, Marathon, Runners, Running Quotes, T Shirt
Last Sunday I went for my first run of 2009. And it was one painful experience. I had not run since November 2008 and I thought I should try a 5k run round a track but I only managed to run 2k.
I tried to run fast but I felt as if my legs were tied with sacks of sand. My chest was on fire and it was hard to believe I was the same person who had cruised to a comfortable 2 hours 54 minutes finish at October 2008 Stanchart Nairobi Marathon. It was clear the partying over Christmas holiday had done lots of damage!
The purpose of the run was to assess my physical fitness in readiness for 2009.
1. Fitness of my knees
Sore and painful knees are a bad sign. Mine felt okay.
2. Ankle fitness test
Ankle wear and tear are inevitable in running. Mine were not aching so am assuming everything is fine.
3. Strength Test
I did pull ups – three sets of 8 repeats. The goal of pull ups was to assess my upper body strength. I did the three sets but I had to push harder than normal.
4. Vertical Jump Test
How high you can jump is a sign of how fit you are. The higher the better. I jumped the normal length but it has more to do with my improved jumping technique, a friend of mine taught me how to jump higher.
5. Leg Strength
Lack of speed and heavy legs during running is a sign I need to do stretching exercises.
6. Cardiovascular Fitness test.
Running is a cardiovascular exercise. As I was running my chest felt like it was on fire and when I stopped running my chest felt tight. The solution is to start running again.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Exercise, fitness test, Marathon Training, Running, running injury, Stretching
1. Take at least three days off
2. Get a professional massage
3. Soak in an ice bath
4. Fuel up – eating a mix of carbohydrates and protein less than 60 minutes after exercise will boost glycogen stores and repair mucles.
5. Have a cup of tea, the antioxidants found in both green and black tea fight muscle soreness caused by inflammation.
written by Constantine Njeru
From The American College of Sports Medicine I found this cardiovascular fitness test – one of the most important indicators of your overall physical health.
This test really couldn’t be easier: all you need is a 12-inch step (or stair) and a stopwatch. You’ll step up and down for three minutes. Alternate your feet and try to maintain a pace of 24 sets—that’s one up, and one down, on each foot—per minute. When the time’s up, sit down and take your pulse immediately: With your fingers lightly on the pulse-point on your neck, count the number of beats for 15 seconds, and then multiply by four for the number of heart beats per minute.
In this case, you’re aiming low. A low number suggests that your body is better able to recover quickly from exertion—a key element of a healthy body—so the lower the figure, the greater your cardio fitness. Once you have the number of beats per minute, it’s easy to gauge your situation.
Excellent: Anything less than 97 beats per minute
Good: 97-127 beats per minute
Fair: 128-142 beats per minute
Poor: 143-171 beats per minute
Very Poor: anything above 172 beats per minute
Don’t despair over an unsatisfactory result, however: Your level of cardio fitness can improve remarkably quickly, with as little as 20 minutes of cardio exercise four to five times a week.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: 10K Running, diet, Exercise, fitness, Marathon, Marathon Running, Marathon Training, New york marathon, Runners, Running, Training
An Ethiopian runner is expected to finish a marathon among the top athletes but at Last Sunday’s Marine Corps marathon, Ethiopian, Jiitu Abraham finished the 42K marathon in 6 hours 13 minutes.
Jiitu is no ordinary runner, she is a former Miss Ethiopia (2005) beauty queen. In 2007 she also ran the marathon and finished in 6 hours flat.
The new face of ethiopian runners.
She must have turned heads along the way
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: 10K Running, diet, Exercise, fitness, Marathon, Marathon Running, Marathon Training, New york marathon, Runners, Running, Training
Low salt levels in the blood is one cause of stomach cramps during running. Other causes of runners cramps are inadequate oxygenation; exposure to large changes in temperature; dehydration.
Many runners experience low Salt levels because of drinking too much water before and during running. The water dilutes the sodium in your body. Sodium is a vital mineral needed for optimal bodily function.
The week before a marathon many runners spend time eating carbohydrates and drinking plenty of water. Few runners step up their salt intake because there is a lot of writing is focused on dangers of eating too much salt.
Salt is as important as water and carbohydrates.
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: 10K Running, diet, Exercise, fitness, Marathon, Marathon Running, Marathon Training, New york marathon, Runners, Running, Salt, Training
Building Endurance
“The development of endurance is very simple. You just increase the distance of your long run.” Jeff Galloway Author of Marathon: You Can Do It
For any length of run, you can hold your endurance for at least 2 weeks. If your long runs are usually over 17 miles, then you can hold that endurance for 3 weeks. If your long runs are over 26 miles, then you can hold that endurance for 4 weeks.See The Book: Marathon You Can Do It
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: half marathon, Marathon, Resistance, Running, Training
Last week I read in the news that Barrack Obama made three separate stops to Chicago gyms over the course of one day. It seems the busy campaign schedule hasn’t killed his love for working out!
With these multiple gym visits, am wondering is Obama running for Mr. President or Mr. Universe?
My theory is that there is a possibility Obama is addicted to working out. A few months ago the New York York Times published a report about “runners high“. Scientist in Germany proved that when you are working out your brain releases chemicals that alter your mood. You feel good and high! This is the reason why some people claim to be addicted to exercise.
Another theory I have read is that Obama is using gyms to conduct V.P interviews? And what do you think of this theory from comedian Jay Leno “Obama is working out because he needs to be fit to do those Flip-flops“
written by Constantine Njeru
\\ tags: Exercise
World Anti-Doping Agency is said to be taking a closer look at Viagra and what role, if any, it plays in competitive sports.
According to an article I have just read on NY Daily News, athletes have been using viagra to enhance their athletic performance.
Among its better-known benefits, the Daily News says, Viagra…
- Helps build endurance, especially for athletes who compete at high altitudes
- Delivers oxygen, nutrients and performance-enhancing drugs to muscles more efficiently
The Daily News quotes disgraced BALCO founder Victor Conte as saying, “All my athletes took it… It’s bigger than creatine. It’s the biggest product in nutritional supplements.”
If evidence emerges to prove Viagra is indeed a performance enhancing drug, we might see sex being banned from Olympic villages. For now it remains one of the many legal performance enhancing drugs.
Read full story at NY Daily News
written by Constantine Njeru
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