Run to Win

• This week last year, I offered some advice on what to wear to a race to prevent “severing your leg at the thigh” from chafing.
• I tried to decide if it was worth running in an ultramarathon a few weeks before my next marathon. Ultimately, I decided that yes, it was a good idea.
• I shared what I learned about velomobiles after attending a Bike Commuters’ Meetup. They look like fun toys.
• On the news front, Oscar Pistorius had some troubles after running out of his lane and getting persecuted by the IAAF. There also came down the first cyclists to get charged with doping after signing the UCI charter. The Yarmouth Clam Festival had 917 finishers and went off without any problems last year
• This week two years ago, I continued my series on icing with a description of how to ice w/an ice bag. and shared my thoughts on why you should not use weightlifting gloves or belts when you work out. I shared why it was important to determine how much you should be sleeping every night. One of my more popular articles over the past couple of years explained the differences between running on a track versus running on a treadmill.
• This week two years ago, there was some trouble in the UK with cyclists getting pushed off of their bikes by passing motorists. Three years ago was even worse, when an 88 year old hit some cyclists after ignoring the police who were controlling traffic at the Clam Festival. (Along with a 5 mile run, there is a bike race.) In Germany, a 16 year old killed one of Australia’s top cyclists when she drove into the whole team while they were training.

• This week last year, I compared the pros and cons of running with headphones, which is always such a polarizing topic.
• Shani Davis broke his own 1500m speed skate record with a time of 1:42.32. He bested his own record by 0.36 seconds.
• Jim Snyder provided some information about the treadmill record from the week before, including providing a video of the event.
• How do you compare your workload from week to week when your training consists of multiple activities?
• This week two years ago, I began a weekly series on what I thought about the 20 new rules of lifting found in the book by the same name. I posted two rules per week, beginning this week with the list of rules and the first rule: use your muscles as they were designed. I also demonstrated how to do a swiss ball bench press with dumbbells, suggested that you always eat before and after working out, and wrote a review on Under Armour gloves. Unfortunately, I have sense lost that pair of gloves and replaced them with Sport Hills.

This week last year was pretty busy, with the Clam Festival and some site news. I spent a lot of time talking about health, both from the taking care of yourself and the treating injuries perspective.

• I continued my series on icing with a description of how to ice w/an ice bag. On the topic of injuring yourself, I also shared my thoughts on why you should not use weightlifting gloves or belts when you work out.
• I ran the road race at the Yarmouth Clam Festival this week last year. The race was a little slower than it was in 2005.
• I reviewed the VirtuRace.com website, but they no longer exist in that form and I have not gotten around to reviewing their new website. In fact, it has been quite a while since I even checked out the new site.
• On a health note, I shared why it was important to determine how much you should be sleeping every night.
• I explained the differences between running on a track versus running on a treadmill. Personally, I have trouble going more than a mile or so on a treadmill because I quickly grow bored out of my mind.
• Last year, there was some trouble in the UK with cyclists getting pushed off of their bikes by passing motorists. Two years ago was even worse, when an 88 year old hit some cyclists after ignoring the police who were controlling traffic at the Clam Festival. (Along with a 5 mile run, there is a bike race.) In Germany, a 16 year old killed one of Australia’s top cyclists when she drove into the whole team while they were training.

Just about all of the news this week last year was about making your body better. There was a race report, a review of some gloves, and a whole bunch of articles about lifting weights and getting in shape.

• I continued the animated lifting series with instructions on how to do swiss ball dumbbell bench presses. I also had another dietary workout tip where I suggest that you always eat before and after working out. It is great advice.
• I reported upon the 2006 running of the Irish Road Rover, locally known as Ború’s race due to where it starts and finishes. I also mentioned my thoughts on early season pub races, of which the Road Rover is one.
• I reviewed a pair of under armour gloves that I have used quite a bit over the past year or so. My review still stands, although now that I have actually tested the gloves in colder weather they are a bit lacking. They do have a wide range where they work well, though, and on those colder days do serve as a good layer beneath some mittens.
• I began a weekly series on what I thought about the 20 new rules of lifting found in the book by the same name. I posted two rules per week, beginning this week with the list of rules and the first rule: use your muscles as they were designed.

In 21 Days to a Fitter You – Gym Gear over at Abandon Nest, there are a half dozen items that will make going to the gym a much more pleasant experience for a new weight lifter. I agree that having a duffel bag, combination lock, and exercise log are important, and that having a stop watch can make the difference between getting results and wasting your time. However, I disagree with the assertion that weight lifting gloves and a weight belt should be purchased, especially for inexperienced weight lifters. I believe that weight gloves, wrist straps and weight belts are bad for you and that they should be avoided except in limited circumstances.
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I never really understood the whole Under Armour thing; of course, I’ve also never worn anything from them other than these gloves. All in all, I have to say that I like them. I have not put them to any extreme tests yet, owing to a mild winter and a neck injury. They keep the hands warm, they wick the sweat away, and they are fairly tactile which makes it easier to do things such as get your keys out or tie your shoes. That is definately a nice benefit in a Maine winter. My hands have yet to be too cold or too hot while wearing them, which negates the need to be constantly taking them off and putting them on.
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