VO2 Max

What is VO2 Max? Guest Blogger and Dance Scientist Amy Williams Explains V02 Max and What it Means For Runners As a measure of physical fitness, you may wish to measure your VO2 max. V meaning volume per time, O2 meaning oxygen and max meaning maximum. VO2 max is the highest rate of oxygen consumption during maximal exercise. [...]

Source: http://www.runtheline.com/1165/vo2-max

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A wrap-up of awesome gear ? just in time to wrap up for Christmas!

I feel very fortunate and grateful to be a member of the LaSportiva Mountain Running Team. Aside from being in the company of some of the best mountain runners in the sport, I was provided with a selection of gear from LaSportiva and some fantastic associate sponsors. Personally, I raced about 700 miles this year [...]

Source: http://mountainrun.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/a-wrap-up-of-awesome-gear-%e2%80%a6-just-in-time-to-wrap-up-for-christmas/

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gninnuR

I was pointed to a web site about reverse running (aka gninnur esrever, retro running, or retro locomotion) ? simply running backwards.     Then I found other sites about backwards running as well. According to this article by Junji Takano backwards running increases your balance, burns more calories, and increases your vision and hearing powers.  ?It’s [...]

Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/running/reverse-running/4608/

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My first ever Thanksgiving run

This week is a rest week, and I decided to do a short run on this Thanksgiving Day. My wakeup heart rate was 54, and I felt great. The temperature was 0 (F) when I got up, but when I left for my run it was 17, and when I returned it was in the mid 20s.

We've had a blizzard and some snow during the past two days (mostly two days ago), but the Parkway path had been plowed, and the path was around 80% clear and dry. There was ice on the path, mostly in shady spots, and most of the ice was covered with a thin layer of snow that was blown onto the path. I ran on the dry spots, jogged on the snow covered ice, and walked on the bare ice.

I ran my planned 2 miles and enjoyed the cold crisp air and wonderful sunny sky. I wore my normal three layers for winter running, and I used a dry pair of stockings for my hands. I wore my wool ski cap, and I pulled it over my face when I started to run. It was a nice way to begin this Thanksgiving Day. During my run I saw two pairs of runners and two walkers, plus two runners on the street as I drove to the Parkway. My wife was concerned about me being alone on the path if I should slip on ice and fall. I assured her there would be other runners there, and I was glad to see them. I always wave hello at the other people I see while I'm running.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OldManRunning/~3/kq8FPy7Ryw8/my-first-ever-thanksgiving-run.html

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Wendy: The Fountain of Youth Korean Style: Staying Young and Fit on Buraksan Mountain


Koreans are a hardworking, dedicated people and their drive to stay strong and healthy does not wane with age. Every day I see older Koreans out power walking in track suits with big sun visors and running or hiking shoes. On the street to our house I frequently see a tiny little old lady on her daily walk, scooting alone with her walker. She is smiling and waving to friends, but determined in her march up the hill. I am a terrible judge of Korean age, but I dare say that they age very well and that little old lady is likely a centenarian or close to it.

Korean culture and everyday life contribute to this awareness of fitness with endless opportunities to exercise. Every block has a small park with pieces of exercise equipment we normally only see in a gym. However, Koreans do not need a special place to work out, I?ve seen cab drivers doing push-ups against their cars while waiting on fares and people doing push-ups on low walls or fences waiting for busses. They never seem to stop moving.

All of this has been reinforced by my outings to Buraksan Mountain.

It is a small peak in the middle of a bustling city with a surprisingly technical trail that has a huge open air fitness center in the middle of it.



You can bench press, crunch, pull up, elliptical, or do a variety of other exercises, some of which I haven?t quite figured out, (like hanging from a wheel and twisting back and forth).

With places like this, there is truly no excuse for anyone not being in shape.

Buraksan Mountain also encompasses several burial areas. It makes me wonder: Were they put there so family members could get in a healthy hike while visiting their ancestors, or to remind us what happens if we don?t take care of ourselves?

(In all honesty, the burial mounds are likely one of the reasons this hill has not been turned into apartment complexes.)

A few weeks ago, I was on the military base and samples of Ginseng were being given out in hopes of selling very expensive boxes and vials of the stuff. I found myself talking to an older American man who was raving about how Ginseng was the secret to Koreans being so healthy, fit, and aging so well. I was looking at him and thinking that the enormous beer gut he was sporting suggested that Ginseng could not cure gluttony or sloth! I have no doubt that Ginseng is healthy or at least won?t hurt you, but I?m pretty sure the secret to health and youth in Korea can be found on Buraksan Mountain.

Live, love, stay fit, and be happy!

For my runner take on this day and a few more pictures, please see my main blog: Rustedrunner


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OldManRunning/~3/HCZ-m3gdkk4/fountain-of-youth-korean-style-staying.html

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Contest: How Cold Can You Go?

It’s getting cold.  Really cold.  Before we know it, we’ll be snapping pieces off of our plastic ice scrapers while trying to clear the windshield before work.  Your pipes will freeze.  So will you.  But alas, some of us thrive in the alpine environment and look forward to hitting the trails we know are there [...]

Source: http://mountainrun.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/contest-how-cold-can-you-go/

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