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- From: gontang@electriciti.com (Ozzie Gontang)
- Newsgroups: rec.running,rec.answers,news.answers
- Subject: rec.running FAQ, part 6 of 8
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- Organization: Int'l Assoc of Marathoners (IAM)
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- Reply-To: gontang@electriciti.com (Ozzie Gontang)
- Summary: Information about Running
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- Archive-name: running-faq/part6
- Last-modified: 10 Mar 2003
- Posting-Frequency: 14 days
-
- ===========================================================
- Shoes (Thomas Page page@ficus.cs.ucla.edu)
-
- Here is a summary of shoe reviews gleaned from various places including
- manufacturers' adds, Road Runner Sports catalog, Runner`s World, Running
- Times, rec.running postings, and my own experience. I will post and update
- occasionally.
-
- Guide to Categories
- -------------------
- BASICS: A good quality shoe for a beginning through mid-mileage runner.
-
- LIGHTWEIGHT TRAINER/RACER: Typically under 10 ounces. Very light, very
- fast, biomechanically gifted runners can wear these shoes as daily
- trainers. Other runners may get away with using these as a second pair for
- racing in or for track workouts. These shoes usually have blown rubber
- soles for light weight so they wear out too quickly for an everyday
- training shoe for most of us.
-
- MC: (Motion Control) Made for over-pronators and heavier runners.
-
- STABILITY: For neutral runners and mild over-pronators. Offers some
- resistance to pronation and supination.
-
- RACING FLAT: Most people should race in their regular trainers or
- lightweight trainers. For people who can get away with it, racing flats
- might buy them a few seconds in a 10k. If that is the difference between
- 1st and 2nd, it is probably worth it. If it is the difference between 38:04
- and 38:14 it is probably not worth the risk of injury. These shoes have
- very little stability, cushioning, or durability, but they tend to weigh
- 2-4 oz. less than a lightweight trainer.
-
- Construction
- ------------
- If you remove the insole, you can tell the type of construction. Slip
- Lasted shoes have a sewn seam running the length of the shoe. Board lasted
- shoes have a cardboard board running the length of the shoe. Combination
- lasted shoes have cardboard in the rear half, and a seam up the front half.
- Slip lasted shoes are the most flexible. Board lasted shoes are the most
- stable and least flexible. Combination lasted shoes attempt to compromise
- giving a flexible forefoot and a stable rear. Orthotics wearers should
- stick to board or combination lasted shoes. True over-supinators (these are
- rare) should use flexible slip lasted shoes. Another way to look at it: if
- you have a rigid foot (tends to be high arched feet), favor flexible (slip
- laste) shoes. If you have a floppy foot (tends to have flatter feet and
- overpronate), favor combination or board construction.
-
- Last
- ----
- The last is the form the shoe is made on. Lasts vary from curved, to
- semi-curved, to straight. Straight lasts are generally the most stable
- shoes, while curved lasted shoes tend to be the most flexible. You just
- have to see what last from what manufacturer fits your foot.
-
- Stores
- ------
- A good running shoe store is essential. The sales people at the sporting
- goods chain stores and the mall shoe stores just don't know their products
- or how to fit runners, despite advertising to the contrary. A real runner's
- store should allow you to run in the shoe on the sidewalk outside the
- store, or at least on a tread mill in the store and watch you run. They
- should be able to tell you if you over-pronate in a particular shoe. The
- advice you get in a good store is worth the price (full retail) you pay.
-
- Don't be a jerk and pick the brains of a good running shoe store salesman
- and then buy at a discount place. If you value their advice, buy a pair of
- shoes from the specialty running store so they will still be in business
- the next time you need them. Then, if you liked the pair you bought, go
- ahead and buy it from a discount store or mail order place in the future;
- you don't owe the store your business forever. Remember though, that models
- change, and you will want to go back to the good store every few years.
-
- Notes:
- ------
- Weight is typically listed for mens' size 9 as quoted by manufacturer and
- found either in Runners World, Running Times, or Road Runner Sports
- catalog. Different sources differ in the weight they report, often by as
- much as an ounce. I have not been consistent about which source I use here
- so you may find a discrepancy with a source you consult.
-
- M.C. stands for Motion Control (i.e. a shoe for over-pronators).
-
- ************** SHOE REVIEWS *************
-
- Check out:
-
- http://www.runnersworld.com/ Runner's World Online!
-
- =============================================================
- Active Isolated Stretching
-
- Aaron Mattes' book Active Isolated Stretching. See RW, Feb/94
- The book is $30 (+ Postage/handling). You can reach Aaron at:
-
- 2932 Lexington St
- Sarasota, FL 34231-6118
- 941-924-0462
- 941-925-8530
-
- Aaron has video tapes of the stretches. The father/son team which has
- marketed themselves very well, were trained by Aaron Mattes in Active
- Isolated Stretching. They videoed their tape at Aaron's. Anyway, go to the
- source and support those people who often aren't the marketing wizs yet
- share so much great information.
-
- Two great little books which would be of great help to you are from a
- fellow who has shared a lot of his wisdom on rec.running.
-
- You can reach Paul Blakey at TEEHI@sunshine.net
-
- His books are:
- The Muscle Book $10.99
- Stretching Without Pain $14.99
-
- I have used them over the past several years and know that you'll find them
- very helpful in learning what you need to know about your "thinking body."
-
- Tell them Ozzie sent you. I don't receive any financial compensation, just
- want to support people who, I believe, care about helping people learn to
- take care of themselves plus get some good info out to the world.
-
- =============================================================
-
- Stretching (Shane P Esau spesau@acs.ucalgary.ca) (Rocky Essex
- rocky@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu)
-
- STRETCHING EXERCISES by Shane Esau, Edited by Rocky Essex
-
- OVERVIEW
-
- When stretching, stretch the muscle until your feel a slight tightness,
- then hold for 20-30 seconds. Repeat, this time stretching the muscle a
- little more. Thus it should take 1-1.5 minutes/stretch (a total of 15-20
- minutes)
-
- CHEST
-
- Place your hand on the wall, with the front of your elbow as well on the
- wall Now turn so that you can feel a stretch in your chest - try to keep
- your elbow on the wall - your hand should be shoulder height or higheer.
-
- HAMSTRING
-
- Stretch your hamstrings by lying on your back, with 1 knee bent. Then bring
- your other leg up to vertical, keeping your knee straight and your back
- against the floor. This is a much better stretch for your hamstrings than
- is the bent over stretch.
-
- QUADS
-
- Stand erect, grab one leg and pull your foot towards your but. Remember to
- keep your stomach tight - don't let your stomach relax - do this for both
- legs.
-
- Another quad stretch is to sit on your feet and bend (lean your upper
- torso) backwards, keeping your knees on the ground.
-
- ILLIOTIBIAL BAND (I.T. Band)
-
- Stand erect with your feet shoulder width apart. Now take your left leg and
- put it behind your right leg and put your left foot about 12" to the right
- of your right foot. Now lean your torso so that is upright again (take your
- right hand and run it down your right leg until your feel the stretch).
- Repeat with the other leg.
-
- FREQUENCY
-
- Try to stretch 1/2 - 1 hour/day - this includes pre-training stretching,
- but at least 1 stretching session/day that is outside of training.
-
- TRICEPS
-
- Take your left hand, and put it behind your head, palm facing the same way
- as your face. Now, slide your hand down your spine, until you feel a
- stretch. Now take your right hand and grab your left elbow, and pull your
- left elbow towards your right hip (over and down). This should stretch the
- tricep.
-
- LATS
-
- First, sit on your feet, with your arms outstretched in front of you. Now,
- place your left hand on top of your right hand. Now, lean back and twist
- your body towards your right side (you want to try to put your right armpit
- on the ground). If this is not stretching, move your hands further out in
- front of you.
-
- UPPER BACK
-
- This is for your upper back and is easy to do - take your left elbow in
- your right hand, and pull it across the front of your chest - try pulling
- your left elbow all the way over to your right pec muscle - it may be
- easier if your put your left forearm in your right armpit.
-
- BICYCLE SITUP
-
- Lie on your back, and put your legs in the crunch position (90 deg bend in
- your legs and your hips) Now, pedal your legs from bent to almost straight,
- and at the same time bend at the waist bringing your elbows to your knees.
- It is a killer (mainly because of the co-ordination that it takes)
-
- It is like a leg lift on the starting part, then changes to a crunch situp
- from that point on. Fingers interlaced behind head and pedal while you are
- crunching.
-
- GLUTEOUS MAXIMUS --THE BUTT
-
- Sit down with your legs out in front of you. Now bend your left leg and put
- your left foot on the outside of your right leg, between your right cheek
- and your right knee- pull your left foot as close to your right cheek as
- possible. Now, pull your left knee in towards your chest. If you don't feel
- much, grab your left shin, and give your left leg a little twist (ie pull
- your shin closer to your chest). Your should feel this. Another one is to
- lie on your back, put both feet in the air, then bend your left leg again,
- but this time bring your left shin in front of your roght quad. Now pull
- your right leg towards your chest - you should feel this in your buttocks.
- If you don't, push your left knee away from your chest, while maintaining
- the distance between your right leg and your chest.
-
- ANKLES (Mike Dotseth miked@col.hp.com)
-
- Stand with feet in normal standing position. Place a hand on a wall or a
- railing for a little balance. Now, 'roll' your feet around on their 'outer
- edges'. Repeat 50 times. ('Rolling on the outer edges' means to tilt your
- feet as far outward and inward (supination and pronationtween rock forward
- on your the balls of your feet and back on your heels.) The major benefit
- is the stretching and strengthening on the muscles and tendons which keep
- your foot stable as you run.
-
- A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about stretching and flexibility by
- Brad Appleton can be found on:
-
- Ftp-site: cs.huji.ac.il:/pub/doc/faq/rec/martial.arts
- WWW-URL: http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/papers/rma/stretching_toc.html
-
- ========================================== Sweat (Sam Henry
- shenry@cs.rice.edu)
-
- Question: I sweat more than I can replace during a long run, ride, or
- triathlon. What can I do about it?
-
- It's hard to say what to do without knowing what you do now. None of us can
- replace as much as we lose while we are losing it. The trick is to keep
- from going into deficit.
-
- Do you hydrate yourself every day, all day long? Min 2 qts/day.
-
- Do you hydrate yourself extra before the ride (like a qt an hour for 2 hrs
- or so before the start).
-
- Do you use sports drinks to help with trace element losses? I use Exceed at
- 25% solution for the 1st half of long rides, orange juice at 25% for med
- rides, and plain water for short rides.
-
- What is your consumption rate during rides? I start drinking 30 mins into
- the ride and drink a qt an hour whether I am thirsty or not. If you are
- thirsty, it is probably getting pretty close to too late.
-
- Do you eat while you ride? Things like bananas, oranges, and pears provide
- fuel *and* coolant, along with some nifty minerals and such that your body
- needs to make the cooling system work right. I eat fig newtons and such
- right as I start and eat every 20-30 mins after the first hour. Pears,
- particularly, are an easy-to-eat thirst slacker.
-
- What kind of hydration regimen do you use *afterwards*? I immediately start
- drinking at the end of a ride, starting with a quart of water followed by a
- quart of full-strength sports drink (Exceed for me). I also find something
- to eat that is high in complex carbohydrates. All this within the *first
- hour* after the workout. The eating and drinking are intertwined. Then I
- drink another quart of something that sounds appealing. Then I go back to
- my drinking all day long to get my "normal" two quarts.
-
- I might have thought I would slosh, but I never have. And most of my riding
- is done at temps above 80 degs and in high humidity. If you are urinating
- infrequently and the urine is a dark color, you are underhydrated, whether
- you have exercised or not. No matter how much you sweat.
-
- ============================================================
- Treadmills--(contributed by Steve Pachuta, sjpachuta@mmm.com)
-
- The January, 1996 _Consumer Reports_ has a treadmill review which
- features both motorized and nonmotorized models, together with some
- useful criteria for evaluation.
-
- Why use a treadmill?
-
- There are many advantages to treadmills, including (1) The most
- obvious--weather is not a factor in your training schedule. (2) Training
- is possible any time of day--darkness is not a factor. (3) No danger of
- getting hit by a car or tripping on a curb. (4) No stoplights, no rabid
- dogs (presumably), no hecklers (presumably)! (5) Controlled hill workouts
- are possible with adjustable incline. (6) Precise interval training is
- possible. This is a big advantage; you just need to set your speed and
- stay on the treadmill to run your goal pace exactly.
-
- Is treadmill running the same as outdoor running?
-
- I think the consensus in the various posts in rec.running is that
- treadmill running is very similar to outdoor running. The physiological
- effects of a person moving relative to the ground vs. the ground moving
- relative to a person are not greatly different. Certainly there are some
- biomechanical issues involved, notably the tendency for the treadmill belt
- to slow down momentarily during each footstrike. Many treadmills have
- compensatory schemes to minimize this effect, including large flywheels and
- microsensors which constantly adjust the belt speed.
- Some differences between treadmill running and outdoor running are the
- absence of wind and visual motion cues on a treadmill. The lack of wind
- makes sweat generation a serious issue, and a strong fan blowing directly
- into your face is almost a necessity for serious training. The absence of
- a headwind also gives a slight speed advantage to treadmills, and it is
- often suggested that an incline of 1 to 2% on the treadmill will compensate
- for the lack of headwind. The lack of visual motion cues on a treadmill
- can be disconcerting initially, but this is something you get used to. It
- may contribute to the feeling that you are working harder at a given pace
- than you would outdoors.
-
- What features are important in a treadmill? Here are some things to
- consider:
-
- (1) Motorized vs. nonmotorized. If your goal is to bring your outdoor
- running indoors, then a motorized treadmill is what you want. Nonmotorized
- treadmills will certainly give you a workout, but they do not simulate true
- outdoor running since you are driving a belt as well as your body. Many
- nonmotorized treadmills only work at an incline, and pace is not constant
- as on a motorized treadmill (although in this respect they are similar to
- outdoor running).
- (2) Ruggedness. If you are really going to run on your treadmill, you
- need something more than the $299 specials you see at various discounters.
- Some things to look for: welded frame, large rollers (consider that some
- club models have rollers on the order of 8 inches in diameter), large motor
- (1.5 horsepower minimum, with 2.0 or up preferable). THE HEAVIER AND
- FASTER YOU ARE, AND THE LONGER YOUR WORKOUTS, THE MORE IMPORTANT THESE
- THINGS BECOME. Most treadmills are not built for people weighing more
- than 250 pounds.
- (3) WARRANTY AND QUALITY OF SERVICE ARE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. I
- wouldn't settle for anything less than a full 1-year warranty. Treadmills
- are like cars; they will almost certainly need some work at some point.
- (4) Maximum speed of 10 mph or more. This is 6:00 mile pace, which
- will do for most people. There are treadmills which can achieve 12 mph (5:00
- pace); I haven't heard of any which go faster, but they probably exist.
- Personally, the consequences of a misstep while running indoors at 5:00
- pace scare the hell out of me!
- (5) Method of belt lubrication. Running belts can get quite warm and
- wear faster if not properly lubricated. Some models are self-lubricating;
- others require periodic lubrication/waxing.
- (6) Ability to simulate actual running. Various mechanisms have been
- developed to make treadmill running feel more natural. Without putting
- in a plug for any particular manufacturer, I would recommend trying out
- several different makes. It is surprising how a treadmill that feels so
- natural can suddenly feel terrible after you try a different one.
- (7) Manual vs. motorized height adjustment. I've used both, and I
- strongly recommend motorized. If you want to run courses that simulate
- real outdoor runs you don't want to be cranking a handle all the time,
- especially if you're running fast.
- (8) Noise level. This can vary considerably, but note that "quiet"
- does not necessarily mean "better."
- (9) Programmability. It should be a given that speed and incline are
- adjustable during a workout. It is also very desirable to be able to
- PROGRAM both speed and incline to create your own custom courses. Many
- manufacturers include their own preprogrammed courses in their electronics,
- but it is less common for them to give the user the ability to do this.
- (10) Low price? Realistically treadmills for serious runners are going
- to cost more than $1000, and they can be a lot more than this.
- (11) Incline range. Most treadmills have inclines ranging from 0 to
- 10%. There are some which can produce a decline (-2% for example). See
- below for conversion between % incline and degrees.
- (12) Board and belt type. Some treadmills have shock-absorbing boards
- and/or soft belts to provide a more forgiving workout than can be obtained
- on hard pavement.
-
- Any disadvantages or other considerations?
-
- The lack of wind is definitely a problem, and as mentioned above a fan
- is a necessity. Another problem with treadmills is boredom. I am always
- amazed at how much faster an hour passes when running outside than when
- running inside. I don't think you can expect to read while running on a
- treadmill, but you can watch television or listen to music. I generally
- prefer loud music over television, but this is obviously a matter of
- personal preference.
- Another thing to be aware of is the tendency to set the treadmill at a
- fixed speed and incline and run an entire workout at these settings. I
- would recommend varying both speed and incline to give your muscles some
- variety and minimize the possibility of injury.
- Some treadmills interfere with heart rate monitors and prevent their
- use, though there are treadmills which come with built-in heart rate
- monitors.
- Safety is of some concern, and many treadmills come with protective
- devices which stop the belt in case you slip or fall off. Treadmill
- manufacturers always recommend plenty of clearance between the treadmill
- and the walls of a room. Treadmills can draw a lot of electrical current,
- and 30-amp circuits are recommended for some heavy duty models.
-
- How do I convert between % incline and degrees?
-
- Remember your trigonometry. Grade (or incline) = rise/run, opposite/
- adjacent, height/length, or whatever you want to call it. For percent
- grade, multiply this by 100.
-
- degrees = arctan((percent grade)/100)
- percent grade = tan(degrees) * 100
-
- Thus, 1% incline is a mere .57 degrees, 5% incline is 2.9 degrees, 10%
- incline is 5.7 degrees, and 15% incline is 8.5 degrees.
-
- Where can I get more information on treadmills?
-
- Start with back issues of _Runner's World_, _Running Times_, etc. They
- usually have articles on treadmills as winter approaches. The December,
- 1993 _Runner's World_ contains a list of manufacturers, a chart to convert
- between treadmill running at various inclines and outdoor running, and some
- sample workouts. The January, 1996 _Runner's World_ contains brief
- evaluations of many different treadmills (mainly high-end models).
-
- ===========================================================
- Weather ("The Running Book" By the Editors of Consumer Guide)
-
- COLD-WEATHER
-
- Cold weather does not present any serious problems for you, especially if
- you are in reasonably good condition. If you have heart problems, consult a
- doctor first. High wind-chill factors are the greatest threats to you in
- cold weather, since you can suffer frostbite if you are not adequately
- protected from the wind. You must remember that when you run, your own
- motion against the wind increases the windchill factor and increases the
- risk of frostbite. Be sure all normally exposed areas of skin are covered:
- head, face, ears, and hands. The important thing to remember is that you
- must dress in layers in order to create your own insulation.
-
- When you run in cold weather, beware of ice on the road, and remember to
- taper off your run slowly so you will not catch a chill. When you arrive
- home, change out of your damp, sweaty clothes right away.
-
- HOT-WEATHER
-
- When you run in hot weather, your blood pressure can drop dangerously or
- you could suffer heat exhaustion. If you start feeling dizzy and dehydrated
- while jogging and your pulse and breathing grow very rpid, you could very
- well be on your way to heat exhaustion. Stop exercising immediately. Get
- out of the sun, drink fluids (tepid, not cold), and rest.
-
- Running in heat also slows down the blood circulation, placing a greater
- burden on your heart. And of course, you will sweat a lot more so your body
- loses more water that usual. To replace it, drink a full glass of water
- before you start and one every 15 or 20 minutes during your run. A few
- pinches of salt dissolved in the water will help. But if your stomach is
- empty, omit the salt or it will probably cause stomach cramps.
-
- An important thing to remember about heat is that it takes your body about
- two weeks to adjust.
-
- WIND
-
- If you run in a strong wind, you are going to be expending six percent more
- oxygen that you would under ordinary condtitions. So, if you are running in
- a stiff breeze slow down and you will get the same benefits as you would
- from a faster run. When you set out on a windy day, start with the wind in
- front of you at the beginning of your workout; then at the end, when you
- are more tired, you will have it at your back, helping to push you along.
-
- RAIN
-
- Rain need not be a deterrent unless you're afraid of melting, but you will
- need some protection. Wear waterproof outer clothes, of course, and as many
- layers as you need to keep warm. Don't linger in them after the run but get
- into dry things as soon as you get home.
-
- HIGH ALTITUDES
-
- High altitudes are a source of special problems. When you get to 5000 feet
- above sea level and beyond, it takes a lot more time for oxygen to be
- absorbed into your blood and travel throughout your body. So your heart has
- to work a lot harder at its job. Plan on taking at least four to six weeks
- to get adjusted to a new high altitude, and adapt your jogging routine
- accordingly. Most runners recommend cutting your program by about 50% at
- the beginning.
-
- Running on cold, rainy days (Brendan Leitch bleitch@bcarh407.bnr.ca)
-
- TWO RULES:
- 1) Dress in layers
- 2) Keep DRY, this is done by putting the wicking layers closest to the SKIN.
-
- What works for us: (us = the running club I belong to)
-
- Top: 1st LIFA or some similar 'wicking' material against skin 2nd turtle
- neck or long sleeve t-shirt(repeat if needed) 3rd Shell jacket, Goretex is
- best, but any layered Nylon one will do the job
-
- Bottom: 1st LIFA or some similar 'wicking' material against skin 2nd long
- tights
- 3rd wind pants(preferably goretex again, but nylon will do)
-
- Head: 1st Bella Clava(a thin hat that goes around head like old fashioned
- ski mask)
- 2nd Your shell jacket hat over the Bella-Clava
-
- Hands: 1st light thin wicking material gloves 2nd heavier glove
-
- Feet: your normal socks/shoes - just make sure your bottom clothes cover
- ankles etc.
-
- ==========================================================
-
- QUESTIONS
-
- (1) Is it better to run in the morning or evening? "The Running Book" By
- the Editors of Consumer Guide
-
- It's' important to establish a routine for yourself, geared to your own
- disposition and living habits. Some runners prefer to run early in the
- morning, some even before daybreak. They seem to like the solitude
- available at that hour, when the streets are still empty of traffic and
- people.
-
- Some runners are shrewd, enough to kill two birds with one stone. They get
- their exercise in while "commuting" to work. Issues to consider: Are
- showers available at work? How far is it to work? What kind of work do you
- do? Do you work outside or inside?
-
- People who do their running in the morning say that it sets them up for the
- day. They are more alert and less likely to become upset by the pressures
- and frustrations of their work, and at the end of the day they fell less
- fatigued.
-
- Other runners wait to run after work, put their jobs behind them, and
- headed home. A run at this time provides a nice transition for them, a time
- to work off some of the tensions that may have built during the day so that
- they don't carry them into family life. ...you should end your run at least
- an hour before you retire. Otherwise you may find it difficult to fall
- asleep.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (2) Should I run when I have a cold/fever? "The Running Book" By the
- Editors of Consumer Guide
-
- Recommended schedules should be followed as faithfully as possible, but not
- blindly. There are certain times when you have no business running. If, for
- example, you have the flu, a cold, or some other ailment, don't overexert
- yourself and possibly harm your body by trying to run. If you feel a cold
- coming on, however, running may help you get rid of it. But if you try this
- cure, follow Dr. Kostrubala's recommendations. He suggests that you dress
- warmly, take two aspirin in a glass of milk, and then go out for a run. Jog
- slowly and see how you feel. Continue jogging until your body grows warm,
- even hot, Then try to keep your temperature at that level.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (3) How often should I run? "The Running Book" By the Editors of Consumer
- Guide
-
- Most running programs, ask you to run three times a week as a minimum
- requirement. This helps reinforce the habit of running, but its main
- purpose is to develop cardiovascular conditioning through frequent running.
- But more is not necessarily better. Experts in physical fitness tend to
- agree that running days should alternate with days of rest, since rest for
- the body is as much a part of developing fitness as exercise.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (4) Which of the 8 lanes on a US track is actually the '1/4 mile' one?
-
- (Lori Moffitt lcm@med.unc.edu) writes: The long and short of it, pun
- intended, is that US 1/4 mile tracks are typically 400 meter tracks, and
- the runner needs to compensate for the difference by running a few yards
- extra, about 10 yards. The 400 meter distance seemed to be measured 12''
- from the inside curb of the track. Opinions vary about this and the
- compensation distance.
-
- (Art Overholser overhoka@vuse.vanderbilt.edu) A perfect 400-m track,
- measured 12" from the inside curb as specified by TAC, is 437.4 US yards
- long, or 7'8'' shy of 440 yards. So you only need to run 8 feet (not 10
- yards) extra to get the 1/4 mi. To get one mile out of 4 laps you have to
- add about 10 yards.
-
- If his figures are correct, to change this lap to a quarter mile, move out
- an additional 15 inches when going around the bends. (Sherwood Botsford
- sherwood@space.ualberta.ca)
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (5) I have started running after having my baby and I am curious to know if
- any one has some stomach exercises?
-
- If you had your baby less than 6 weeks ago, it is likely that your uterus
- hasn't returned to its normal size, and this could cause the cramps.
- Remember, too, that your stomach muscles separated during pregnancy and it
- takes time for them to meld together again.
-
- The important thing to remember when returning to running after a layoff is
- to ease back into running, paying scrupulous attention to how it feels. The
- old adage, "listen to your body," applies here. If your stomach is
- cramping, slow down, ease up.
-
- STRETCHES (Paulette Leeper paulette.leeper@daytonOH.NCR.COM) To stretch
- your abdominals, lay on your back with your knees bent and the soles of
- your feet on the floor. Let your knees drop to one side, as you lay your
- arms toward the other...hold for about 30 seconds and gently switch sides.
- >From this same position, you can begin to strengthen your abdominals by
- pressing your lower back toward the floor...holding it for increasing
- increments of time. Your ability to hold your lower back to the floor will
- give you a good sense of what kind of shape your abdominals are in at this
- time.
-
- Many of the abdominal exercises recommended during pregnancy are good to
- begin with post-partum. One of my favorites is to sit up with knees bent
- and do a sort of "reverse sit-up." Instead of coming up from the floor,
- move your torso toward the floor with your arms stretched out in front of
- you.
-
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