Biking & Walking in the US: How Do You Rank?
The Alliance for Biking & Walking just released their 2012 Benchmarking Report, which describes the data that they have collected and analyzed across all 50 states and 51 of the largest cities in the country on safety, infrastructure, habits, policies, education and the economic impact of bicycling and walking. The report is a great resource to help efforts in your local community to improving the infrastructure for people to move under their own power.
One of the most disturbing stats that I saw on a quick glance through the report is that 40% of the time, Americans are traveling less than 2 miles. However, 62% of the trips that were less than a mile were by car, and 87% of the trips between 1 and 2 miles! Sure, sometimes you need to carry a lot of groceries home, or the weather is bad you’re afraid that you’ll melt. I can understand that. But if it’s a nice day and you’re just going to visit a friend down the road, or if you live close to where you work, why not walk?
Economically, bicycling and pedestrian related projects will normally create between 11 and 14 jobs per $1 million spent, compared to 7 jobs created for highway projects. Despite cost/benefit analyses showing that every dollar spent can result in $11.80 in benefits, states are spending less than 2% of their federal transportation dollars on projects that will encourage people to commute under their own power. That’s just one of the reasons that biking and walking levels are down 66% since 1960 and is probably a contributing factor to a growth of 156% in obesity levels. In fact, between 1966 and 2009, the number of kids walking or biking to school went down by 75% and the percentage of fat and overweight kids has increased by 276%.
Did you know that 6 of the 10 states with the highest levels of biking and walking also have the lowest levels of bicycle or pedestrian fatality rates in traffic accidents? On top of that, in 7 of the 10 states where you are most likely to die in a traffic accident from getting hit by a car you’ll also find the fewest number of fellow bikers and walkers.
Maine is one of the better states to live in if you enjoy moving under your own power, which just gives me one more reason to be happy that I live in Vacationland all year. How does your state rank? You can find out by checking out the report at: People Powered Movement.org
Leave a comment below and let me know how you rank where you live.
2012 Olympic Trials and Houston Marathon
Finish Line at the Houston Marathon
It was a great weekend. I knew it would be something special when within a few hours of getting there last Thursday I’d already met up with a half dozen people I knew (and all at random, none of it was planned.) That night, my wife and I crashed a local running club’s pasta dinner (okay, we were invited, but it’s more fun to say we crashed it.) The next day, we met up with a friend of ours that was also in town to take a tour of the Johnson Space Center, and then I spent the afternoon at the Expo trying to drum up business for my book.
Read More…
GAC Fat Ass 50k – 2012
GAC Fat Ass 50k
“Pain Is Temporary. Quitting is Forever.”
–Lance Armstrong
I drove down with some friends the GAC Fat Ass 50k this morning with the intention of running all 5 loops. Given the beautiful weather, it almost seemed a crime not to.
It was a lot of fun, despite the lack of anything even resembling snow (at least once it warmed up a little we got some mud to run through) and there were a lot more people than I expected.
Running in a singlet in January in New England somehow seems wrong, but it’s a fun loop and a good group of folks that come out to run.
I was running at a good clip for almost 3 loops when I started to feel a small twinge in my achilles. Not enough that would stop me during a race or even a workout if I were training for something, but enough to make me notice it and consider whether I should continue on for a fourth loop or not given that I’m running another marathon next weekend and I don’t want to risk getting hurt for it.
I decided that it was better to be smart than to have fun and take risks since I had nothing to prove today, but it was a hard decision. The decision did have one benefit in that I had a ride at that point and was able to reclaim a few hours of my day and my afternoon was quite productive, but it was so nice out that it still seems a shame to have stopped.
Hopefully I can get back next year and do a proper job of running all 5 loops.
New Year’s Day Boston Marathon
2012 Boston Ice Sculpture
Last year, I drove down from Maine with a friend from Maine. This year, I spent New Year’s Eve with another friend that lives in the Boston area, which was actually quite convenient because I was able to drop my car off near the Boston Public Library and have it waiting for me near the finish line when I was done.
We arrived in Hopkinton around 5:45 in the morning to join a quickly growing crowd of about 30 runners. Read More…
Announcing the 2012 Runner’s Almanac
The 2012 Runner’s Almanac has officially become available as of this afternoon.
On November 29, I tried to go to bed early, but I had an idea. So I got up to write down some notes and went back to bed. Then I got up to take more notes. This went on until instead of going to bed an hour early I was going to bed 3 hours late…and that’s how the Runner’s Almanac began.
Fast forward 2 weeks and 2 days and I was ordering a proof. The book was put together, the cover designed, interior typeset, and now it was just time to wait and see whether what I’d envisioned in my head was going to work when it was actually on paper.
And yes, yes it does!
The proof of the book came in today, so I’ve gone ahead and made it available for purchase.
The book will appear at Amazon most likely between Monday and Wednesday of next week, but until then you can check out the book’s website, download a sample chapter if you’d like to see what it’s all about, and order it directly if you’d rather get it sooner rather than later (it would make a great Christmas gift for any runner in the family!)
Just head on over to: therunnersalmanac.com
Winners and the 3rd (and Final) IceSpike Contest
Thanks to everybody who took part in the IceSpike contest last week! We had 54 entries this time, and our winner was AMJW from Running Overdose (Alicia, I’m guessing?) I’ll be emailing you for where to send your free set of IceSpikes.
I’d like to apologize for waiting a week before choosing a winner. I’ve got a great project in the works that is just about finished and ready to be announced that has consumed all of my time over the past couple of weeks.
In the meantime, I’d like to award the final 2 sets of IceSpikes to some deserving winners. If you took part in either of the previous two contests, you are already entered, but you are welcome to get a bonus entry into this contest now if you like by just leaving a comment below.
I will choose 2 winners at random on Sunday night at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time so you have until then to leave a comment below.
Update: Rather than make yet another post on these contests, since this is the final one I am going to just announce the winners of the last 2 sets!
This time, there were 91 entries, and #13 and #69 were chosen, which are Jim in Wells and Marcel.
Congrats, guys, I’ll be contacting you for a mailing address!
IceSpike Winner – And Another Free Set!
Yesterday, I held a short contest which ended about a half of an hour ago for a free set of IceSpikes. I’ll be announcing the winner below.
I’d also like to announce another contest for another free set! This one will run a little longer. You have from now until Friday, December 9th at noon Eastern Time to leave a comment below. Also, for those that entered this weekend’s contest – you’ll get an automatic entry from yesterday’s or this morning’s entry and can have a bonus entry by leaving a comment on this post. (This only applies for those that entered before the deadline – future comments won’t be considered on that post, only on this one.)
Ice Spikes Make Winter Running Safer – Win a Free Set!
A couple of years ago, I compared Ice Spikes to sheet metal screws to try to figure out which was more effective for traction when you are running in the Winter. Living in a cold climate, being able to run confidently in icy conditions is an important part of not just staying safe and injury free but also in motivating yourself to get out the door for your workout.
There are other solutions that I’ve reviewed before, such as Stabilicers and Yak Trax, but until I heard about Ice Spikes my favorite solution was to just drill sheet metal screws into the bottom of my shoes. They’re both cheaper and more effective than anything else I’d tried.
Having used Ice Spikes for a couple of Winters now, my conclusions from 2010 still hold true. Sheet metal screws aren’t as effective as Ice Spikes and they don’t last nearly as long. However, they are a lot cheaper.
How much you run and how much traction you want will determine which solution is better for you, and if you’d like to see all the pros and cons of both solutions then click here to see my full summary.
There is one thing for sure, however, and that’s that if you can get your Ice Spikes on sale or for free, then there’s no contest about which is a better option! Ice Spikes has been kind enough to sponsor quite a few races here in Southern Maine, one of which I direct and a few put on by my trail running friends.
How To Win a Free Set of Ice Spikes
They’ve also been kind enough to provide some of their product for me to give away right here at Run to Win! I’ll be giving them away throughout the month, starting today. If you are paying attention, then this weekend you can just leave a comment here on this page and you’ll be entered into a random drawing. Be sure to leave a valid email address (it won’t appear on the site) so that I can get in touch with you if you win.
As I type this, it is Saturday morning on December 3rd, 2011. This contest will stay open until noon on Sunday, December 4th (Eastern Time.) One fast acting commenter is going to get a free set of Ice Spikes to use this Winter, and you’ll still have time after the contest to buy a set with a 15% discount from their website.
If you buy anything on their website by midnight tomorrow, use coupon code stocking stuffer and you’ll get 15% off of your order. Just go to: www.icespike.com
To enter the contest: Just leave a comment below.
