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September 30, 2010
September 23, 2010
Cramps? Have a pickle...
Well, almost.... pickle juice, in fact.
If you're one of those unfortunate runners whose legs frequently cramp up during your runs, you may be willing to try anything to solve the problem. Anything? Are you sure? How about some pickle juice? Yes, pickle juice has long been touted as a fix for cramping muscles by some runners and coaches, and now a recent study lends even more credibility to this home remedy.
Researchers had 10 male college students exercise to the point of mild dehydration and then electrically induced toe cramps. Their average cramp lasted 153 seconds. They then repeated the experiment and gave the subjects either water or pickle juice. For those who drank pickle juice, the cramp was gone in 85 seconds. For subjects who drank water, their cramps lasted 134 seconds.
Fans of pickle juice have said it's the electrolytes in the juice that help get rid of the muscle cramps but, in this study, blood and urine tests found no change in the subjects' sodium, potassium, magnesium or other levels. Something else in the juice (researchers suspect vinegar) must have triggered a neurological response in the mouth, which then signaled the brain to stop the cramping.
Muscle cramps have never been much of an issue for me, but -- even if they were -- I don't think I'll be packing pickle juice in my Fuel Belt. I think I'd rather just deal with the cramps.
From About.com: Running & Jogging
If you're one of those unfortunate runners whose legs frequently cramp up during your runs, you may be willing to try anything to solve the problem. Anything? Are you sure? How about some pickle juice? Yes, pickle juice has long been touted as a fix for cramping muscles by some runners and coaches, and now a recent study lends even more credibility to this home remedy.
Researchers had 10 male college students exercise to the point of mild dehydration and then electrically induced toe cramps. Their average cramp lasted 153 seconds. They then repeated the experiment and gave the subjects either water or pickle juice. For those who drank pickle juice, the cramp was gone in 85 seconds. For subjects who drank water, their cramps lasted 134 seconds.
Fans of pickle juice have said it's the electrolytes in the juice that help get rid of the muscle cramps but, in this study, blood and urine tests found no change in the subjects' sodium, potassium, magnesium or other levels. Something else in the juice (researchers suspect vinegar) must have triggered a neurological response in the mouth, which then signaled the brain to stop the cramping.
Muscle cramps have never been much of an issue for me, but -- even if they were -- I don't think I'll be packing pickle juice in my Fuel Belt. I think I'd rather just deal with the cramps.
From About.com: Running & Jogging
September 6, 2010
Watch your Step
Most of us have, at some time in our running careers, had a fall. Some are worse than others, but all are quite embarrassing, and often due to our own clumsiness, and not paying enough attention.
From About.com: Running & Jogging
Often someone or something else -- a cyclist, runner, or bad conditions -- is to blame for a wipe-out. Follow these tips to help prevent falls during your runs:
Pay attention. Keep your head up and look ahead -- about 10 to 20 feet in front of you. Try not to look down at your feet, so you can see what's coming. Not only is this important for your safety, it's also proper running form . This is especially important when running on trails , when you can hit obstacles such as rocks, roots, logs and branches.
Be careful on the downhills. Many falls occur on the downhill, so be extra careful when running downhill. Control your speed and keep your head up, so you can avoid obstacles.
Make sure your shoes are tied. This sounds like common sense, but I'm surprised at how many runners I see with dangling shoelaces. Most shoelaces on running shoes are extra long, so be safe and double-knot them.
Watch out for cyclists and other runners. Avoid collisions (and subsequent falls) with other runners or cyclists by always being aware of your surroundings and practicing good communication. If you're approaching another runner or cyclist and need to pass them, communicate with him and let them know on which side you're trying to pass. Before you stop or turn around, look back and make sure your path is clear.
Use extra caution at race starts. I've seen so many falls at the beginning of races. Runners often stumble when they try to pass slower runners, get jostled by the crowds, or trip over a water bottle or piece of clothing that someone discarded at the start. When you line up at a race start, make sure that you're in the right position for your pace and be on the lookout for discarded items.
Same goes for water stops, too. Crowds and wet, slippery pavement make hydration stops another common wipe-out zone. Watch for runners stopping suddenly at the water stops and look for big puddles of water. And, although it's OK to throw your cup on the ground at a water stop, you should try to toss it where other runners can't trip over it.
From About.com: Running & Jogging
Often someone or something else -- a cyclist, runner, or bad conditions -- is to blame for a wipe-out. Follow these tips to help prevent falls during your runs:
Pay attention. Keep your head up and look ahead -- about 10 to 20 feet in front of you. Try not to look down at your feet, so you can see what's coming. Not only is this important for your safety, it's also proper running form . This is especially important when running on trails , when you can hit obstacles such as rocks, roots, logs and branches.
Be careful on the downhills. Many falls occur on the downhill, so be extra careful when running downhill. Control your speed and keep your head up, so you can avoid obstacles.
Make sure your shoes are tied. This sounds like common sense, but I'm surprised at how many runners I see with dangling shoelaces. Most shoelaces on running shoes are extra long, so be safe and double-knot them.
Watch out for cyclists and other runners. Avoid collisions (and subsequent falls) with other runners or cyclists by always being aware of your surroundings and practicing good communication. If you're approaching another runner or cyclist and need to pass them, communicate with him and let them know on which side you're trying to pass. Before you stop or turn around, look back and make sure your path is clear.
Use extra caution at race starts. I've seen so many falls at the beginning of races. Runners often stumble when they try to pass slower runners, get jostled by the crowds, or trip over a water bottle or piece of clothing that someone discarded at the start. When you line up at a race start, make sure that you're in the right position for your pace and be on the lookout for discarded items.
Same goes for water stops, too. Crowds and wet, slippery pavement make hydration stops another common wipe-out zone. Watch for runners stopping suddenly at the water stops and look for big puddles of water. And, although it's OK to throw your cup on the ground at a water stop, you should try to toss it where other runners can't trip over it.
Golf Day Pics
Check out the photos of the 1st Wingate Road Runners Golf Day by clicking on the picture below.
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| Golf Day 2010 |
September 5, 2010
Marathon Club Championships: 2010
Rules and Details:
- You can choose which marathon you want to use as your official championship race time.
- Any marathon that you have run in South Africa, during 2010, well above sea level will qualify.
- In order to qualify for a medal, enter your results on this spreadsheet.
- Medals for the various age categories will be awarded at the Year End Function on 29 October.
- Finishing times will be verified on the official race results of the particular race.
10km & 21.1.km Club Championships: 2010
Our annual Club Championships for the 10km and 21.1km will be held at the following races this year:
- Chamberlain Capital Classic - 9 October @ PHSOB, Hofmeyr Park
- McCarthy VW - 25 September @ Rietondale Park
- Tuks Alumni Legends - 23 October @ Waterkloof Airforce Base
Rules & Details:
- Medals for the various age categories will be awarded at the Year End Function on 29 October.
- You can choose which race you want to use (of the 3 above) as your official championship race time.
- Only the 3 races mentioned above qualify for both the 10km and 21.1km Championships.
- In order to qualify for a medal, you need to run any one of the above races, and enter your results on this spreadsheet for the 10km and this spreadsheet for the 21.1km.
- Finishing times will be verified on the official race results of the particular race.
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