Years ago runners were considered masocistic lunatics who put themselves through senseless torture for reasons the mainstream simply could not understand. Sound familiar? I think obstacle course racing now occupies that realm… ad well, let’s just call it misunderstood. In the 70s, all runners were hardcore. They ran through otherwise quiet, normal neighbourhoods in very shortContinue reading “Is OCR what Marathon running was in the good old days?”
Category Archives: The 411 on Training & Racing
5 Reasons why Pregnancy may make you a Better Athlete
1. Lean muscle mass. This would happen pretty naturally for anyone carrying an extra 25-40 pounds everywhere they went for months. Everything you do is harder. Then baby comes and rapid total weight loss happens before the corresponding muscle loss. Voila… super human strength. 2. Deprived muscles. I hate it when people say being pregnantContinue reading “5 Reasons why Pregnancy may make you a Better Athlete”
Wow! People REALLY signed up for this!
Spartan sent a spoof email advertising an over-the-top race yesterday for Halloween. The race is over 666 miles, has the on course mud replaced with blood, and the penalty for a missed obstacle is 300 burpees… instead of the usual 30. Oh yes, and it takes place in hell. The funny bit is not necessarilyContinue reading “Wow! People REALLY signed up for this!”
Rise of the Sufferfests
The launch has just gone off. After seeing the trailer, it’s clear this is a movie that needs to be made. Not only is it a good documentary that shows off the true colours of our sport, it looks like it will have some fantastic character and awesome back stories. Here’s the page…
Being Mary. Life and training lessons from a midpack runner.
Mary didn’t always look like this. A couple years ago I met her when she joined my boot camp class. She was in fair enough all around shape, but she had been sidetracked by years of raising two beautiful girls and a successful career as a chef. She later joined our run club, and hasn’tContinue reading “Being Mary. Life and training lessons from a midpack runner.”
Iron and the female athlete
Iron is a major deal for female athletes. Not only do athletes require more iron than the general population – but being female multiplies those needs. Being an endurance athlete is hard work and requires increased dietary iron. Every time your foot hits the ground, blood cells are damaged. Iron is lost through sweat. RedContinue reading “Iron and the female athlete”
Women’s running in Canada
Krista Duchene is in many ways your typical busy mom of 3. Typical, in that she does all the stuff someone with a 6, 4 and 1 year-old typically does. Untypical, because she is also at the top of the Canadian marathon scene. While most of us struggle to get dinner on the table, keepContinue reading “Women’s running in Canada”
Chicked, chicking, chick.
This morning, I toed up toward the line of the 5k Resolution Run, leaving one row of runners between me and the start line. One row of male runners. As I judged whether I should press into the very front, I got some “don’t be getting in the way now” glances. Every runner knows thisContinue reading “Chicked, chicking, chick.”
Paula Radcliffe – World Record Holder in the Marathon – and Super Mom
Paula Radcliffe is not your typical mother. She is the fastest female marathon runner in world history. She is also mother to Isla and Raphael. Paula managed to make comebacks after both births with the help of a team of professionals. How does she manage to care for her children? Luckily, she has a teamContinue reading “Paula Radcliffe – World Record Holder in the Marathon – and Super Mom”
allisontai.ca 