Eating before or after you run

I have always been curious if it makes any difference if you eat before or after you run. I read an article I found at msn that answered this question. However, I think there are probably lots of professional opinions on the sujbect. This article said that it is a myth that it is bad to eat before you run. It is not good to exercise when your body is depleted and needs energy. Before running or exercising it can be a good idea to have a sports drink, juice, fruit, bread or pasta. It is also a myth that if you go running in the morning before you eat breakfast that you will burn more fat. The energy your body expends needs to be replaced. If you have a surplus then you put on weight and if you deplete your body of the energy it needs then you will lose weight.

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146039

Top ski resorts in North America

It is now official ski season! I decided to find some of the best ski resorts in North America and share them on my blog. This article rates the top 10 ski resorts in North America. I have been to a couple of them and would have to agree with the ratings. The top resorts, according to this article, are Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley, Aspen, Vail, Sun Valley, Taos Ski Valley, Snowbird, Killington, Jackson Hole, and Whistler/Blackcomb.

I have been to Sun Valley, Snowbird, and Whistler/Blackcomb. They are all amazing resorts and offer a variety of terrain. Snowbird is located in Utah and has awesome snow and tons of fun runs. Some of the best runs are more hidden and you have to hike to, but they are definately worth the extra effort. Whistler/Blackcomb is in Canada, right above Vancouver, B.C. It is made up of two mountains--one called Whistler and the other called Blackcomb. They are both great mountains, but I think that Blackcomb is my favorite. I don't really remember Sun Valley that well because it has been a long time, but I remember having a great time. Sun Valley is located in Idaho.

The photo is a picture of Whistler/Blackcomb

http://away.com/top_picks/namerica_ski_resorts_1.html

Whistler/Blackcomb
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm

The benefits of cross-training with swimming

There are many benefits that runners can acquire while cross-training with swimming. Swimming helps strengthen the upper body, which usually does not receive much attention with running, especially if you do not do any strength training. It helps maintain and build your cardio-respiratory fitness level. Swimming is also gentle on your joints and stimulates blood flow helping with recovery time. It is a good activity when an injury occurs and you cannot run, bike, or use another type of cardio machine.

http://runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263-266-11141-0,00.html

Running injuries caused by type of arch

According to an article I read on a website called thefinalsprint.com, your arch type can indicate different injuries that you are more prone to. Runners with a high arch have a higher risk of stress fractures and small cracks in the bones of their feet and lower legs. Runners with low arches are more prone to knee cap pain. When you run at six miles per hour, the impact on your feet is three times your body weight. Your body is designed so you never land flat footed when you run. Instead, you land on the outside bottom of your heal and roll inward toward the big toe. This lessens the impact and protects your body from injury.

http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2006/12/do-high-arches-cause-running-injuries/

Running network

I found another good running website that has running news, and training, nutritional, and injury prevention tips. It is called the running network. The running network has a section that is called "product reviews" and you can search. I found the "2006 shoe review" and it reviews lightweight, award winning, motion stabilizing, and neutral shoes.

2006 Shoe Review
http://www.runningnetwork.com/productreviews/fallshoereview06index.html

Running Network
http://www.runningnetwork.com/index.html

Running while you are sick...good or bad?

I have been sick the last few days and I was wondering if it was okay for me to still go running. I remember back in high school track that my coaches told me that any sickness from the neck and above is okay to run and any sickness below the neck is not okay. I wanted to find out if this was really true so I searched on Runner's World to see if they had any advice. I found the exact same advice that my coaches had shared with me.

The article said that symptoms below the neck, such as a chest cold, a bronchial infection, or a body ache, require time off. A study was done to determine the effects on running when someone has a cold. The study took two groups of people and inoculated them with the common cold. One group went running 30-40 every day for a week, and the other group did nothing. The duration of the cold for each group was the same.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-286--9082-0,00.html

Why are Kenyan's so good at running?

I was wondering why there are so many amazing distance runner's from Kenya. So I looked around and found one source of information from PBS. The article said that most of the successful Kenyan runners are from a single tribe, the Kalenjin. The Kalenjin live in high altitudes from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. They have ideal running conditions and their lungs become strong due to the altitude. I definately think these are good reasons of why Kenyan's are good at distance running, but I wonder if there is more to it than that.

Six out of the top ten fastest times for the marathon are held male Kenyan's. Eight of the top ten fastest times for the half marathon are also dominated by male Kenyan's. Kenyan women hold five of the top ten in the marathon and three of the top ten in the half marathon.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/kenya/facts.html