Keep Active to Fight Cancer

We all know exercise and physical activity is good for us. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who could tell you that activity is not a component of balanced, healthy living. (Or at least honestly, and not part of a last-ditch attempt to spend a lazy summer’s day sunk deep into the couch watching baseball [...]

Will Run for Health

Dr. Lee Miller wrote a piece arguing that, due to health care savings and productivity increases inherent in being more fit, that we should lobby for tax breaks to cover fitness expenses. The case that he presents about the health care savings associated with active people versus sedentary people is tempting.
However, in the more immediate [...]

Can Running Ruin Your Teeth?

Recently, I had a disappointing visit to my dentist. “Why so glum” you ask? Well, he found three cavities (tiny ones but still).
Honestly, I’ve never had the toughest chompers—even as a kid I struggled with cavities whereas, my brother could chew on stones, never brush his teeth, and still never get a single cavity. But, [...]

Will Run for Money

We all enjoy the benefits of running and the enhanced quality of life it brings, but wouldn’t it be great to get paid for it? No, I’m not talking about becoming a professional runner and winning races and making money, I’m talking about being paid to just be a runner. Sound farfetched? [...]

Ya Gotta Have Heart

We all know that running is good for our bodies, but a recent report in the March issue of a medical journal suggests too much running can actually damage the heart. At least in middle-aged men.
A 51-year-old physician failed a calcium screening used to measure hardened arteries despite having no coronary risk factors to explain [...]

Sleep on This

While listening last year to an archived episode of the Phedippidations podcast, host “Steve Runner” mentions that he got a great night’s sleep on the eve of the Cape Cod Marathon thanks to taking the sleep aid Ambien. It was the first time I’d heard of a runner taking a prescription drug to get some [...]

I Love Coffee, I Love Tea

Pepsi and Coca-Cola recently announced they will soon include more specific label information on the caffeine in their beverages.. Reports suggest the vast majority of adults consume caffeinated beverages daily, particularly coffee or colas. Recreational runners most definitely are among them.
Some drink caffeinated beverages in the morning to get an energy boost or to [...]

Jeff Is Cookin’!

I was contacted a while back by the folks over at Matisse &
Jack’s to give their Trail Blaze bake-at-home oatmeal energy bars a try. i’m always one for trying out new products and their pitch for the bars sounded great. Bake ‘em yourself, save some money, no packaging or preservatives and enjoy a [...]

A Different Kind of Runner

About a month ago I was at a local running store helping register people for a local marathon training program when I overheard an interesting exchange between a newcomer and a coach trying to decide where to place her.
“What’s your pace?” he asked.
“I have no idea.” she responded. This was not unusual; few beginners knew [...]

Patience with Patients

I see quite a few runners in my practice, and it appears that they are comforted by the fact that I too am a runner. However, these patients can be both the most rewarding and challenging patients to treat. The reward is to see them back running healthy again. The difficult part [...]

Getting Fit with FitLink

I recently wrote a review of FitLink.com. The site impressed me and the review I wrote caught the attention of Chris Charlier, one of the founders of FitLink.com. With this, I took the opportunity to ask Chris a few questions about him, the site, and his team’s vision for the future.
With that, [...]

Reaching Painful Conclusions

One of the most popular articles in last week’s online version of the New York Times was a story about whether it’s a good idea to run through pain. The high reader ranking wasn’t a surprise, even if the article’s placement in the fashion section was. The timing was perfect since newfound gym rats and [...]

Weight Loss and Measuring Up (Or Down)

Losing weight is one of those perennial goals that people start in earnest this time of year. That includes runners vowing to shave their race times by paring down a few (or more) pounds. And thatís why many of us in the past week have headed to a calorie-counter or weight-loss site to first determine [...]

Yet Another Reason to Use a Heart Rate Monitor

This is a true story. It is not intended to scare people, but to make people aware of the safety factor that wearing a heart rate monitor while training can provide.
A number of years ago I was doing pick-ups (2-minute surges with a 1-minute recovery) with a masters age triathlete. We were both wearing our [...]

Exercise Induced Asthma

1. What is it?
Exercise induced asthma (EIA) is irritation and swelling of the airways along with production of mucus triggered by exercise, especially aerobic exercise.
2. What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can include any and all of the following: fatigue, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and chest pain. The symptoms [...]

Embracing the Dark Side of the Force: How to Turn Exercise Into a Lifelong Habit

Warning: This article is for people in a constant struggle to find the will to exercise. It may not be appealing if you are not one of those people, or if you are the type of person who prefers to focus only on the warm, fuzzy side of life.
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The Jedi & You
The Jedi Knights of [...]

How to Accurately Determine Your Maximum Heart Rate & Have An Out of Body Experience At the Same Time

continued from parts one and two
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According to a Google search on the subject, Maximum Heart Rate can be defined in the following ways:

The fastest and hardest your heart can pump without going into fibrillation. Rate differs according to age.
Funny but true! If you’ve ever done a real test of your MHR, you’ll probably think it [...]

Sports Injuries Revisited

Most runners at some point in their training will be affected by an injury. Injuries can range from mild to severe. Some require no time off of training, and some may require you to stop running completely.
Many athletic injuries are preventable and treatable. A basic understanding of the causes of injuries can help to avoid [...]

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain Syndrome)

1. What is it?
The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous tissue at the bottom of the foot extending from the heel to the ball of the foot. This structure plays a major role in supporting the arch and preventing the foot from collapsing under the weight of the body. When this structure is injured, [...]

Ignore the New Rules of Stretching at Your Own Peril

Most experts agree on why you should stretch:
1. Stretching enhances muscle flexibility,
2. increase’s the body’s range of motion,
3. and can alleviate muscle stiffness.
But, as far as most athletes are concerned (that’s you!), the most important thing about stretching is that the three reasons listed above combine to help you a) perform better and b) avoid [...]

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