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Distance Runners: Got Water and Fuel?
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Distance runners: have you considered your water and fuel needs? What about a belt to carry it?
Some of us who run only a little (a happy 2 to 3 miles per outing) occasionally carry a bottle of water along on warm days. But for a distance runner, the need is more intense.
Look at the fuel belt set up in the picture. That belt and its four bottles could potentially add as much as four pounds of extra weight. And a lot of runners question the way the weight is dispersed:
“Topher” asked:
Is it better to use a weight belt or a “Camelback.” Better the weight around the waist, or the shoulders where the straps could rub as my arms move during my run. I am expanding to longer weekend runs and figure I’ll need more than just a water bottle.
Some runners like the Camelback, which is as you might guess, a shoulder harness with water strapped…on your back, like a camel. But most say that set up is best for hiking and shorter runs. The waist and hip belt set up is preferred because it disperses weight off the back and lowers it to the region most built to handle weight in women: the hips.
In addition to greater comfort, many female runners prefer this method of carrying water because the bottles are also easier to clean. They go right in the dishwasher. Which allows you to get back out on the trail with a lot less bother.
Fall into Running Fun
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Are you enjoying the Fall season? I hope so. Some say Fall is the best season of all for outdoor running.
The scenery is great. And the weather is usually not too hot and not too cold — making it perfect for enjoying favorite old paths and exploring new ones before the winter’s onset. This last gasp of favorable weather gets lots of runners away from the treadmills for one last bit of enjoying the temperate beauty of fall.
But Fall by its very nature also brings the early close of day. In fact, sunset comes earlier every day until we find ourselves in winter. So a little extra caution is neccessary.
Always Run Against Traffic
It’s easier to avoid traffic if you can see it. Avoid busy roads and those with no shoulders or sidewalks.
Be Visible
If you’re running in the early morning or at night, even at dusk, wear white, yellow, or orange clothes. Also, make sure you have reflective gear on. If you purchase running gear that doesn’t have any reflective areas on it, you can always add some. (Purchase reflective tape at fabric stores or online.)
Always Have Identification on You.
Put your driver’s license in your pocket or wear an ID tag on your shoe.
Run With a Buddy
Run Renée, Run!
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Did it ever occur to you as you are pounding down the sidewalk or trail, that you are running alongside “the Beautiful People”?
Renée Zellweger was named as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by ‘People Magazine.’
The 39 year old Texas-born daughter of a Swiss engineer and a Norwegian nurse-midwife is considered an “A-list” star in Hollywood and… she LOVES TO RUN.
Fitness is not something she takes for granted, either. The petite star gained 28 pounds for her role in “Bridget Jones Diary.” She says she “indulged every food fantasy; non-stop chocolate, along with ordering the pizza, the spaghetti, AND the garlic bread.”
She quickly lost those pounds again after the movie’s filming was over, but then a year or two later, she regained the weight to star in a sequel. Zellweger says she remains horrified at what she put her body through.
“Can I just tell you my body is whacked by the time we finish one of those. It doesn’t know what has happened because it thinks there’s supposed to be a baby and there’s no christening. Did you see that movie about fast food, Supersize Me? I had a panic attack with all the specialists talking about how bad this is for you, long term, putting on that much weight in short periods of time and they’re all saying, ‘You must stop this now or you’re going to die’.”
As it is, Zellweger prefers a regimen of healthy food intake, regular running, and stretching exercises with occasional weights. She’s all about keeping herself beautiful and healthy for a long time to come.