Maruchy Lachance is president of Running Ninja!, a lifestyle brand for runners by runners. Running Ninja! offers a wide variety of apparel and gifts for runners to keep you happy and inspired while you’re on the run.
At least once a week I find myself suggesting to friends to exercise and/or change their diet in order to manage or control a current issue in their lives.
While at a party someone overheard me encouraging a recently divorced mother of two to take up running to fight off all the stress in her life. About an hour later I was approached by the bystander and complimented on my suggestion because instead of fueling her flame of misery or blowing sunshine in her face, I gave her a tangible tool that will help her alleviate some of the problems she is dealing with. This conversation got me thinking about all the other benefits that moderate exercise can do for us.
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By Toni from RunningLovingLiving.com
The holiday season encompasses November, December and January, and throughout these months a lot of drinking, eating and celebrating occurs. My number one goal for the holiday season is to get through it without gaining weight. This year, I have taken it upon myself to start a new tradition in my family along with all the drinking, eating and celebrating…… we plan to run!
Racing during the holiday season is a great motivator to keep on track with training and healthy eating. With scheduled races throughout the holidays the excuses not to run or eat healthy become less likely to rear their ugly head. First off, I hate paying for a race then not putting my best foot forward or worse yet, not running it at all. Plus this year I have recruited my husband making the races a family tradition so I don’t want to let him down or vice versa.
Our new tradition started with a Virtual 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We chose a virtual race because I was cooking Thanksgiving by myself and my time was tight. Unfortunately, Chris was sick and could not participate in the virtual run but I still got myself out there at 10 am!! I ran my virtual 5K in 28:28 and a tradition has begun which Chris will participate in next year. The accomplishment of getting out and running before eating a huge turkey dinner felt fantastic, plus the calorie burn helped to lessen the guilt associated with all the over indulgences from dinner….maybe we will make it a 10K next year!
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A January marathon means runners can’t slack off during the holiday season. Training must persist during the endless opportunities to feast and curl up by the fire. We all should run a January marathon! While the country gets cold and busy, there aren’t a ton of races, but what the calendar lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for it in quality. January presents some of the nation’s best races.
1. Walt Disney World Marathon January 8, 2012
Billed as the most magical 26.2 miles on earth, the Disney marathon has a course like no other. All four theme parks are included in the races course. Runners will travel through Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, and the Hollywood Studios. The course is lined with entertainment and support as well. Finishers earn a well deserved Mickey Mouse medal as they cross the line.
It wouldn’t be Disney if the race didn’t offer even bigger options as well. The marathon is the final race of a major race weekend. The Disney half marathon is the day before and for those up for the ultimate challenge, The Goofy Challenge is presented. Runners can attempt to run the half marathon on Saturday, earn their Donald Duck medal, and then lace up the next morning for the marathon. Those who complete the 39.3 miles earn an additional Goofy medal. Two races, three medals, and a whole lot of bragging rights!
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Maruchy Lachance is president of Running Ninja!, a lifestyle brand for runners by runners. Running Ninja! offers a wide variety of apparel and gifts for runners to keep you happy and inspired while you’re on the run.
In order to have a strong back you need to strengthen your abs. For strong knees, you should work out your thighs. And while these muscle groups are important for a healthy and strong body, you can’t forget to build up your mind.
Nothing will stop a successful fitness streak quicker than a dink in your self-esteem. It can begin innocently enough. Perhaps you discovered you put on a few extra pounds, or you aren’t feeling as motivated on your trip to the gym or your dash out the door.
Your mind is the key to staying on track in spite of all the challenges life will throw your way and by working out your self-esteem you will insure a healthier body and mind!
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I always thought running was dirty. It’s sweaty, sticky, smelly, sometimes salty and therefore crusty. I assumed that was enough to keep most people away, despite the difficulty of the activity itself. However, looking at the growing trend of mud runs, maybe running just wasn’t dirty enough to get your average joe off the couch.
Races with names like The Warrior Dash, The Mud Run, and The Down and Dirty 5K are booming in popularity. For example, the first Warrior Dash was held in Joliet, Ill in 2009. 2,000 participants tramped through the mud obstacle course that year. This year, over 650,000 people have competed in Warrior Dashes all over the world.
These races get their roots from Marine Corps events. The courses are typically either a 5K distance or a 10K distance and they are full of dirty obstacles that are extremely distant from the challenges of road racing.
Some events include military-style challenges such as an 8-foot climbing tower and mud pits. Other races include having to crawl over cars, leaping over fire pits, crawling under barbed wire, climbing ropes, walking a tightrope, or ramming your way through a rubber jungle. Each event is different, but all events include one element: mud.
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