Run to Win

This week last year covered a lot of news, and I answered quite a few reader questions.

• This week last year started off with The Running Shoe FAQ, which explained why runners wear specialty shoes and what makes them different from normal walking shoes.
• I answered a question from an aerobics instructor about how to treat posterior shin splints, including what they are, how to best treat them, and how to prevent them from coming back.
• I was asked “What is the difference between swiss balls and medicine balls?” by Susan. Swiss balls are the large inflatable balls that you can sit on, while medicine balls are the small weighted balls that you can use in place of dumbbells. For good measure, I also explained what a bosu ball was.
• Some friends of mine ran the Vermont 100 mile race last year for the first time, and all three have continued on for their ultramarathoning endeavors. In fact, there were 5 guys who went to Vermont last weekend to compete in this year’s event from our training group.
• On the news front, the IAAF finally agreed to work with Oscar Pistorius to determine whether or not his prosthetics give him an advantage. I also provided a new wrap up that covered stories about new Junior American records, doping at the Tour de France, Disney’s move to ban smoking in their movies, and a study that found that obesity is contagious.
• This week two years ago, I continued my series on how to ice sore muscles by explaining how to give yourself an ice massage and how to use an ice bath. I spent a little time exploring the cost of racing and how much race registration fees can cost. I also discussed how gastrointestinal problems are affected by running.
• This week three years ago, Lance Armstrong won his final Tour. I also gave some tips about proper hydration and how to time rest intervals while lifting weights.

• I continued my series on how to ice sore muscles by explaining how to give yourself an ice massage and how to use an ice bath.
• I spent a little time exploring the cost of racing and how much race registration fees can cost.
• Cramping and gas can be unpleasant when you are running. In fact, running can make gastrointestinal problems worse, so I explored ways to recover.
• I began having some problems with plantar fascitis, and one of the ways that I tried to stretch out my arches and recover was to mow the lawn barefoot. While certainly a very dangerous activity, it did do a good job of stretching out my feet.
• In doping news, Floyd Landis was first accused of doping at the Tour de France. His case still has not been resolved.
• Two years ago this week, and still on the Tour de France topic, Lance Armstrong won his final Tour. I also gave some tips about proper hydration and how to time rest intervals while lifting weights.

I was checking the news wire this morning and saw quite a few articles of interest that I thought that I would share with you:

• Two national records were broken yesterday at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, both in the 4×800. The (15-16 year old) intermediate boy’s time was brought down to 7:41.30 by the Texas Stars, and the United Stars set the (17-18 year old) young women’s record at 8:50.72. (Source: USATF)
• The Tour de France is struggling to maintain its integrity after a lot of controversy over the past few days. No rider rode today in the leader’s jersey after the Tour leader was pulled by his team because he lied about his whereabouts during drug testing before the race. Two teams have pulled out following a rider testing positive in the doping tests. The Tour is not being canceled, despite protests from local French newspapers. I hope that the Tour is not canceled; just throw the cheaters out and let those who are remaining keep going. (Source: BBC Sport)
• The Walt Disney company is taking the plunge and removing cigarettes from their children’s movies completely. They are also going to discourage smoking in movies that they produce that is aimed at adults. While I do not see this as a bad thing, I also don’t see it as something that I think will make a huge difference. I think that these types of knee jerk reactions are a generally ineffectual, much like Homeland Security’s attempts to stop movie-plot terrorism attacks. (Source: BBC News)
• The New England Journal of Medicine has published a study that states that there may be a contagious element to obesity. Having friends that are obese may make it more likely that you in turn will become obese as the norms of what makes an acceptable body weight are adjusted. The study is not conclusive, and I am not so sure that I buy into their theories. I think that if you have friends that do not exercise, then you are less likely to exercise yourself, which can lead to weight gain. It is an interesting theory, though. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

Photo by Tim BigarelliPatrik Sinkowitz signed the UCI charter that states that he is not involved in any sort of doping, and that he would have to pay back a year of his salary if he was caught and was given a 2 year ban from competition.

His “A” sample and has come back from the beginning of June has tested positive for 6 times the allowed amount of testosterone. He claims that he is still clean, and that he is not going to worry about any charges against him until he is out of surgery. The surgery is necessary to correct some problems with his arm and face after crashing into a spectator during the Tour de France and being forced to leave the race.
(Click here to continue reading…)

Competitive cycling is trying to get it’s act together, and has managed to get 189 riders to side their pledge against doping. I can not fault anybody for signing the pledge, but I would not have done it. (Click here to continue reading…)

Floyd Landis asked the French anti-doping agency to postpone their ruling on whether to suspend him until after he had had a chance to defend himself before the US anti-doping agency this May. In order to get them to agree to postpone the ruling, he will not participate in any French races for the year.

“In this case, and in order to avoid any misunderstanding, I agree to voluntarily not participate in any professional or amateur cycling event in France until December 31, 2007, and in particular the Tour de France 2007.”

Floyd Landis is not giving much up. After having had hip surgery, he probably would not have been able to participate in the Tour de France this year anyway. Now at least he can worry about one thing at a time, and that is defending himself before USADA.

(Source: ESPN.com)

There was a lot of news this week last year, most of which was good with some big announcements.

• I demonstrated how to do a dumbbell bench press in my animated series.
• The World Marathon Majors were announced, the first year of races having passed since then. And I was completely wrong about my prediction on not running Boston for a few years; it will be this year’s spring marathon! In other announcements, the Tour de France starts in London this year.
• Eleanora Berlanda had Olympic torch stolen from her. In other news you’d rather not have to hear about, BC Basketball team accidently killed a bicyclist on their way to practice.
• Bode Miller couldn’t leave well enough alone and decided to call out Bonds and Armstrong.
• In NFL news, I was not happy with the NFL playoffs disappointed me, and it was announced that the NFL Network will keep people from being able to watch 8 games this season. Had Time Warner not taken over my local cable company, I would have been able to watch them.

Floyd Landis has been in the news a bit lately after he criticized Dick Pound and then announced that he would wants a second Tour victory to replace his memories of his last race.

Criticizing Dick Pound is nothing new; he has a history of making ill-informed and innappriate comments. What I find interesting is Floyd Landis’ take on what his appeal results in.
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