Running With the Chowhounds »

Most runners choose races based on the location, the terrain, the crowds, or the reputation. I often choose them for the food. For years I ran a nasty, hilly 5-mile trail race because of the post-race pancakes and sausage. The California International Marathon serves up warm tomato soup, but this pales in comparison to the hearty minestrone ladled out at the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay. The one race

Back of the Pack »

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my turn near the front of my half-marathon training group comprised mostly of beginners. By unfortunate coincidence, an injury forced me

The View From the Front »

My lovely wife signed up for a 10-week half-marathon training program and I decided to join her. The program is organized by the local Fleet Feet store and primarily

Men in Tights: Tips »

Women tend to have their body image issues during the warm weather months, but some of us guys have ours during the winter. We stave off facing them as long as possible by wearing our singlets and shorts even when the

New Year’s Resolutions, Etc. »

January is a strange time of year for runners, since we are already taking care of many of the top New Year’s resolutions.
But that doesn’t mean the practice is completely without merit. I’ve generated a few for myself:

Runner’s Tan »

The dog days of summer are long gone. It’s cold, dark and damp outside. Some of you may already be dealing with ice and snow. Fortunately, runners carry with them all year long the remnants of those bright, shiny rays of sunshine. I’m speaking, of course, of runner’s tan.
Yes, we run those endless miles [...]

Roadkill »

As I lay face-down in the gravel, bleeding, my mind searched frantically for the answer to the one question that was of immediate and critical importance to me:
What is the penalty for animal cruelty in Sacramento County?
I was eight miles into my one and only opportunity for a 20-miler. I needed it to determine whether [...]

So, Am I A Peak Performer? »

Short answer: not yet.
It has been two months since I completed the peak performance program at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, in an effort to determine whether a middle-aged, middle-of-the-packer could benefit from the same kind of attention and advice lavished on elite runners. I have given all the recommendations a fair trial—well, except for the [...]

What Are You Running From? »

If you have been following my trek through the peak performance program at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, you know I have had to fast for 12 hours, play video games using my legs, give blood, scan my bones and body fat, run a 4-degree grade at 8.5 mph with an oxygen mask over my face, [...]

I’m Full of Wind »

Read the entire account of Mike’s experience: part one, part two, part three, part four, and part five.
Having recovered sufficiently from my VO2 max test to understand spoken English, I sat down with exercise physiologist Mike Siemens to examine the results.
Mike explained the uses of the test: to measure work potential, general health and wellness, [...]

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