Even if you’ve never had the urge to lace up a pair of running shoes, you can’t help but feel inspired by 42-year-old Deena Kastor. This fall, she’ll return to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon—a race she won a decade ago—aiming to run 26.2 miles faster than any American woman age 40 or older ever has. Over more than 20 years of logging miles and winning races, Kastor has absorbed a lesson or two about running. Read the full article for Prevention.com.
fitness
She Runs: Alexis Ross
Following a nasty car crash in 2014, Alexis Ross thought she might never run again. But a year to the day later, this Chicago-area runner completed her first half marathon. Read the full article for Zelle.
4 Ways To Boost Your Grip Strength (And Why You Should Want To In The First Place)
Forget reading palms—for a better glimpse into the future, shake hands. A stronger grip could predict a longer life, according to recent findings published in the Lancet. Read the full article for Prevention.
The Green Flash Blazes Through Chicago
Lionel Sanders doesn’t swim that well — at least, not for an elite long-distance triathlete. He typically comes out of the water about four minutes after the race leaders. But just wait till the run portion of the swim-bike-run event — about 10K in, he’ll catch up. That come-from-behind strategy has served him well, making the 27-year-old Canadian — who visited Chicago on Monday — the youngest top-10 Ironman in the world. This year alone, he’s won four out of his six half or full Ironman races and has his sights set on the Ironman World Championship in Kona in October. Read the full article for A Sweat Life.
The Best Food Combos To Eat Before Every Type Of Workout
Just like your gear needs vary by workout, so too should your fueling strategy. The smoothie that goes down easy before strength-training could cause digestive distress in spin class. And you don’t need quite as many calories for a 30-minute brisk stroll as you would for a high-intensity interval session. Read the full article for Prevention.
Stay Safe on the Treadmill
Tech CEO Dave Goldberg’s death highlights the rare but serious risks linked to fitness equipment. Read the full article for Runner’s World.
How Not to Be a Head Case at Your Big-City Race
You’ve spent your training runs loping along tree-lined trails or quiet back roads with your herd. But one day, you find yourself on a city street inside an immense crowd of unfamiliar beasts. Music blares, crowds roar, and you have to fight your way through a veritable obstacle course to reach your destination. Add the pressure to perform and months (if not years) of preparation and expectation, and you have the perfect description of a big-city race—and a potential recipe for a major mental meltdown. Read the full article for Runner’s World.
10 Exercises You Hate The Most—And What To Do Instead
It’s bound to happen at some point during your workout. The moment you always dread: Your instructor or workout DVD announces that it’s time to do your LEAST favorite move. You know, the one that always makes your back ache, your knees hurt, or makes you feel like the most uncoordinated person in the room. (We’re looking at you, squats, planks, and burpees.) Read the full article for Prevention.com.
Standing Might Not Counteract the Health Harms of Sitting for Runners
Does your desk chair have fatal intentions? Even if you run regularly, mounting research suggests hours of uninterrupted sedentary time increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and an early death. Read the full article for Runner’s World.
6 Ways Your Health Suffers When You Stop Working Out
Just as a good training program builds you up, falling off the workout wagon can have the opposite effect—sometimes almost immediately. Experts call this phenomenon “detraining,” and its consequences can weigh even heavier than the gut you see in the mirror. Fortunately, the condition is fully reversible, as long as you get your butt back to the gym. Read the full article for Men’s Health.