STL NEWS

07.22.15

Eating an Elephant

It's that time of year again, when my voicemail and inbox are filled with runners freaking out because they did the unthinkable: they signed up for a half marathon. These unsuspecting runners were clicking around, checking out different races, looking at the medals and fun and festivities th…

Read More › 07.15.15

It's the Heat AND the Humidity

 Even if you’re a seasoned heat-and-humidity veteran, it’s always good to take a refresher course. First of all, let's discuss why heat and humidity affect runners so much. When we run, our body temperatures are raised. We must cool ourselves to keep from overheat…

Read More › 07.15.15

Race Week Syndrome: Know the Facts

Welcome to WebMD Symptom Checker!  Hi.  Please answer a few questions before we get started! Okay. A dropdown box appears on the screen. I am checking symptoms for (me) or (someone else). Uh… I click (someone else).  What is the gender of (someone else)?  F…

Read More › 07.8.15

The Tortoise, the Hare, and PEDs: A Fable Revisited

I didn’t expect the phone call. The race was twenty years ago. Sure, there was a lot of hype at the time, but the whole thing soon faded to myth, a legend, a story people told kids to keep them from quitting. And that was cool. Until they asked me to testify. “I’m sorry…

Read More › 07.8.15

Let's Be Careful Out There

Summer brings runners and walkers out of hibernation. But as the parks fill up with folks looking to get fit, the number of questionable characters increases as well. By staying alert and adhering to a few simple rules, we can limit unsafe situations and make our training as enjoyable as a h…

Read More › 07.1.15

My Good Eye

“So, you tried to gouge your eye out in the middle of the night?” Jake asked two days before our scheduled eighteen-mile run. “Uh, kinda. Yeah.” “Gross.” Technically, I wasn’t trying to gouge my eye out. A scratchy contact lens woke me up at 2:00 …

Read More › 07.1.15

Maximum Versus Optimum

One of my favorite lessons for runners is the difference between maximum and optimum. These two words have different meanings, but all too often are used synonymously. Maximum is the greatest amount possible. Optimum is the best or most favorable amount. As goal-oriented people, runners ofte…

Read More › 06.24.15

Running with Nicco

What’s one of the simplest, most mundane things you’ve never done? An unremarkable life experience so workaday that some people don’t give the activity a second thought? Raked leaves? Eaten cold pizza for breakfast? Changed a dirty diaper? Watched Forrest Gump? For the rec…

Read More › 06.24.15

You Know You're A Cross Country Runner

Woop! It's cross country season again! Wait… what?  Summer vacation is just getting started, right? But those preparing for the fall harrier season are in training mode. Victories in the chill of October come from the miles during the summer swelter.  Cross country is THE …

Read More › 06.17.15

Take the Leap

As a rather rambunctious, competitive youth, I may have pushed the limits of what is considered "normal" or "safe." I remember having neighborhood competitions to see who could (or would) jump out of a tree from the highest point. Or see who could run the most laps around my parents’ h…

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