Big Boy Series

Posted by Eason Wednesday 01st of October 2008

Eason explains why the Red Sox/Angels series will decide the World Series... Read more

LA Dodgers on a July roll?

Posted by superindy0604 Wednesday 30th of July 2008

After sweeping the Nationals and playing strong with SF and Arizona, the Dodgers have a good chance at taking the division.... Read more

Sabrina Moran Breaks 24-Hour American Record (147.90 miles)

Sabrina Moran broke the American Record for the 24-Hour run at a windy day at the North Coast 24 Hour Race in Cleavland, OH. Her total of 147.90 miles beat Sue Ellen Trapp's long-standing record of 145.288 miles, and also garnered her the USATF National Championship. Her entertaining and humble blog entry is worth a read.

Jon Olsen won the Men's division with 158.53 miles, just two weeks after representing the US at the 100k World Championships.

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Calfornia's Longest Party - The 194-Mile Relay

Last weekend, I had the great pleasure of joining 200 teams of twelve runners for The Relay, a 194-mile team race from Calistoga to Santa Cruz in Northern California. Dubbed "California's Longest Party", this was going to be my first foray into the team format, and with the great weather, it was bound to be an adventure!

As we headed up to Napa in Van #2, the six runners in Van #1 were already running their way from Calistoga in 4-6 mile segments on a hot and steamy afternoon. The two vans would trade off every 40 miles or so, going straight through the night. Team "Follow You, Follow Me" was on its way! We were a motley crew of PayPal employees and friends from varying running backgrounds, most of us virgins to the team format and new to each other. Our team captain, Jessi Tran, had every logistic nailed to get us to the finish by Sunday night, and encouraged us all to just have fun.

(Team Follow You, Follow Me)

At first glance, it wasn't clear to me how we would squeeze "fun" out of a 30+ hour road trip with strangers. Honestly, that's a LOT of drive time. Plus they were co-workers, so I couldn't let my ultrarunning freak flag fly too much. ;-) Worries disappeared instantly when we arrived at the first exchange and found rows of decorated vans and hundreds of runners in goofy outfits, laughing and introducing themselves to each other. This truly was a party! The vibe was addictive, and all for fundraising for Organs R' Us, the oddly named but important charity to help match organ donors.

(Van art)

(Jaeson gets a high five from Bob when he finishes a hot leg)

Our teammates from Van #1 looked fried from the 90+ degree heat as they pulled in, and they were happy to hand off to Fang Lin, our first runner and mobile engineer extraordinaire. Van #1 (Michelle Peng, Jaeson Augustine, Bob Angus, Rachel Shey, Leo Castro, and Jessi) then found some shade to catch a few z's in the short 4-5 hour break they had. Not that it was really 4 hours, since they had to drive to go meet us...sleep breaks were 2.5 hours at most.

(Fang takes the baton!)

(Van #1 catches a snooze)

We drove along the course with Fang, stopping every mile or two to offer water and some C&C Music Factory blasting from the speakers. Her segment was ranked "moderate", but those hills seemed pretty steep to me...gulp, what does that mean for my "very hard" segments?!?

(Kate, Connie, and Jessica share a laugh)

Fang passed our baton (actually a wrist band) to Connie Wu, who also had a hilly section through the wine country. Connie also works at PayPal, and had joined the running team just a few weeks before to fill in for a sick runner. She tackled the hills and heat with gusto, pointing out the wineries along the way. We were all noticing new window graffiti on our van...we had been tagged! Thank god it wasn't one of the super crude tags like "I have a hard third leg" that we were seeing everywhere. We looked for every opportunity to return the favor.

(Mmmm...chorizo)

Connie finished strong and handed off to Jessica Wager, who had come all the way from Omaha, NB, to get her first glimpse of the wine country. Her persistent smile was evidence this was the start of her vacation, and she would return to Napa for a week of wine and restaurants as soon as the race was done. Nice!

(Jessica gets it done)

Next it was the "old guy"s turn (ie, me), and I lucked out that the sun had already started to come down and give me a break from the heat. It was hard not to "race" with all these runners just a few hundred yards ahead, but I threw in some fun by drinking beer instead of water for all my aid station stops. I swear, it makes you go faster!

(Enjoying a beer mid-segment)

(Kate takes the hand off)

Kate Janes took the baton from me and flew out of Petaluma with an effortless stride that showed her Division III cross country and track roots. We had a ringer! She didn't even mind added a few extra miles with an unexpected detour through downtown Petaluma. Not bad for someone who joined the team less than 48 hours before we started. ;-)

(Running by moonlight)

Scott Chow was our closer, and he pulled us into the next van exchange just as the sun went down. Wow, we're done already? The time does really fly. We wished Van #1 the best of luck, and headed to Fairfax for some dinner and a few hours sleep. It donned on me how much I was getting to know my teammates as we spoke about growing up in the midwest, Scott's upcoming wedding, and those golden college days (recent for most of these characters). I pulled the old guy excuse when seeing our choice of lawns to sleep on and got hotel rooms for a short break and an oh-so-delicious shower, despite the fact a local rock band would be playing yards away from us the whole time. Aaaahhh....then RING!!!! 2am, time to get moving again. Good Lord.

(Sleep when you can)

We picked up at the Golden Gate Bridge, where Van #1 told us of humming cows, drunken revelry from Mill Valley locals, and long stretches across open space lit only by the moonlight. They were ready for some sleep! We rotated through our runners, going through the Presidio, down Hwy 1, and watched the sun come up along Skyline Blvd above Pacifica. My segment was a short one that pulled us into my hometown of Woodside, and I convinced the team to have breakfast at Buck's and crash at my pad rather than sleep in the gym at Canada College. Old guy excuses again!

(Scott Chow cruises down Canada)

My dogs Ace and Martha were thrilled to have sleepy, salty strangers show up. After some tail-wagging and excited greeting, they soon joined the runners to crash on the couch for an afternoon snooze. Two hours later, time to get back on the road! Oy.

(Beautiful day in Woodside)

Van #1 got us all the way to the top of Hwy 9, with Bob Angus and Leo Castro taking the brutal 3-mile legs straight up the hill. There weren't many other runner vans at the exchange, and for good reason...we were in last place! That would explain why all the volunteers were so glad to see us. ;-) The organizers suggested "parallel running" where we tackled a few legs at the same time, and we soon caught up with the last few teams as we went through Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond. I had a great "very hard" section that cut into the redwoods to a rock quarry, and then joined Kate for her "very hard" section which was quiet, graceful, and amazing.

(Leo tackles the hill that never ends)

(Van #1 gets it done!)

Before we knew it, Scott Chow was coming down the finish chute near Davenport, CA, around 6pm, and the whole team joined him across the finish line. 30 hours and change for 195th place! What an adventure! The winning team had started six hours after us, yet still finished five hours earlier...incredible. But I wouldn't trade our finish for anything. Despite offering to cover any segments that folks didn't want to do, they all pulled through with style.

(We did it!)

(A happy team!)

My state of mind was similar to after a 100-miler...more tired from sleep deprivation than running, but feeling alive and thankful for the opportunity to experience so much beautiful country in the presence of good people. The beer and pie at the Whale Beach Grill tasted fantastic, and I toasted my new friends on their accomplishment. I was super proud of us. It's a strange format for a race, but what great stories we will tell! I highly recommend you all try it!

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Micah True's Death - Turns Out It's Heart Disease

USA Today put out a story this week saying the autopsy reports for Micah True, known to many as Caballo Blanco from the book Born to Run, has found that heart disease was the likely culprit for his untimely death while trail running last month.

(Micah True with friend Mike Nutall)

Seize the day, my friends. If your last day is a surprise, wouldn't you want to be trail running at the time? Micah would...and did.

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Does Excess Training Lead to Mental Decline?

Runner's World reported on an interesting study that measured effectiveness on mental tasks after a hard couple of weeks of training. No surprise, effectiveness goes down. But it's nice to see it returns during the taper!

Good to factor in on that training plan. ;-)

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Making Weightloss Affordable

This is a guest post by Lisa.

Contrary to popular belief, losing weight does not have to be expensive. There are many ways things that people can do to lose weight without putting a hole in their pockets. Saving money also eliminates the need to apply for one of the best cards for bad credit. Below are some tips for saving money and losing weight:

Skip the gym membership

Many people think that they will increase their chances of losing weight if they join the gym. However, a gym membership can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 a month. Many gyms today also require that one sign a contract. If a person chooses to work out at home, he can save an extra $240 to $600 dollars per year. Additionally, one can also save money on transportation if he chooses to work out at home. All a person needs to work at home are free weights and a couple of work out DVDs.

Walk as much as you can

The price of gas has skyrocketed over the past few months, and it will probably increase again before it decreases. Many people spend a lot of money relying on their cars to get them places. One of the simplest things that one can do to save money and lose weight is walk. Walking can be done by almost anyone at anytime, which is what makes it one of the best exercises.

Drink more water

Sodas and other sugary beverages are loaded with calories. Swapping out sugary beverages for water not only helps a person save calories, but it also helps him save money. A person should strive to drink at least eight cups of water per day.

Use coupons

Healthy food is usually much more expensive than junk food. That is why people should always make sure that they use coupons when they go grocery shopping. A coupon can help a person save over 20 percent on groceries. That might not seem like much, but it will add up in the long run. For example, if a person normally saves $20 per week on groceries, he can save over $1000 in a year.

Cook at home as much as possible

The typical American eats out about four or five times per week. Restaurant food is filled with sodium, fat, cholesterol and sugar. That is why people should try to eat at home as much as possible. Home-cooked meals are both cheaper and healthier.

Losing weight doesn’t mean that you have to join a high-priced gym or sign up for a weightloss meal program that will cost you $400 a month. You can easily shed pounds simply by watching what you eat and taking advantage of your own body and the outdoors. All you really need is portion control and the right level of determination, and you can lose weight without spending a fortune.

Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

Making Weightloss Affordable

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Proper Posture Pays Off

This is a guest post by Jenny Ellis.

You probably heard it a million times growing up from your mom, “Stand up straight! Your shoulders are hunched over! You’re going to turn into the Hunchback of Notre Dame if you don’t start paying more attention to your posture!”… At least I did. I never really paid too much attention to it either, until I started noticing the drastic hunched over look in kids I saw doing homework and adults bent over their desks. My initial thought: it’s really not attractive to be hunched over like that. Eventually though I started wondering how posture affects your health. Turns out, it affects your health in a lot of significant ways. If you don’t think having proper posture is essential to maintaining good health, think again.

1. Poor posture affects your energy levels. Being slumped over a desk or computer all the time does nothing but zap your energy throughout the day. Because it depletes your energy levels you’re less likely to be motivated to work out or even really do anything other than watch TV and lay down on the couch at the end of a long day at work. Try sitting up straight all day long. You’ll probably notice that you aren’t nearly as worn out when 5pm rolls around.
2. Poor posture makes your muscles work overtime. A lot of people who work in office jobs complain about their backs and shoulders hurting because they’re stuck at a computer and behind a desk all day. However these aches and pains are directly related to how straight you’re sitting, and your muscles have to compensate for the fact that you’re throwing them off balance every time you don’t sit up straight.
3. Proper posture will help you exercise more efficiently. Making sure to keep your spine aligned doesn’t only relieve muscle tension and fatigue, but it also translates into more effective work outs. When you have better posture you are able to execute different exercise moves with better form, and having good form is essential to achieving maximum results when working out.
4. Proper posture will help decrease your risk of injury. Having proper posture doesn’t only translate into good form while exercising, but also helps decrease your risk of injury while working out. Poor posture, on the other hand, causes your body to be imbalanced, which makes some parts of your body have to overcompensate for this and work harder than others, thus increasing your risk of injury.
5. Proper posture gives a sense of confidence. Sitting up straight and throwing your shoulders back gives off a feeling and look of confidence. This renewed sense of confidence can translate into all aspects of your life – not to mention it makes you look better all around.

Your mom was onto something all of those times she harped on you to sit or stand up straighter. Whether you realize it or not, having good posture has a direct impact on our health and well-being. So sit up straight and throw those shoulders back. And don’t be surprised when your health takes a turn for the better.

Jenny Ellis is a freelance writer, and a regular contributor for aupair jobs. She welcomes your comments at: ellisjenny728@gmail.com

Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

Proper Posture Pays Off

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Walking: An Inexpensive Path To Health and Wellness

This is a guest post by Nina Bernice.

When looking for a physical activity to do for fitness, it’s important to consider how much of an effect it will have on your overall health and if you will most likely be able to continue doing it for most of your life. Additionally, you’ll want to choose an activity that burns fat and also tones muscle.

One of the best exercises that anyone can do for physical fitness and well-being is simply walking. Walking is one of the easiest exercises that promotes health, offers countless benefits, and is one of the few exercise routines that can continuously be done as you age. Better yet, it is easy on your muscles and joints, making it a great option for the elderly or for people who have other physical limitations.

Walking is one of the cheapest forms of exercise you can do to tone muscles, burn fat, and work on problem target areas. For example, if you’re looking to tone your thighs, consider what it would cost to take a walk compared to expensive cosmetic surgeries like thigh liposuction cost quite a lot. You can walk almost anywhere, at anytime of the day. The only things that are needed for walking are comfortable shoes and socks, a schedule, a safe location, and motivation.

Walking is considered an aerobic exercise, so your heart, lungs, and muscles can all be strengthened from walking. When we have a strong heart, more blood is pumped throughout our bodies with each heartbeat and more oxygen and nutrients are dispersed through the rest of our bodies, resulting in an overall benefit to your well-being and body.

In addition to being an effective aerobic exercise that strengthens the entire body, walking is also a successful exercise that can help you lose weight. Many studies have proven that just one hour of walking a day can help increase enzymes that cause fat to burn for as long as twelve hours. Imagine how many fat burning enzymes are released if you were to take two walks a day. This would result in enzymes being constantly active all day long. These same enzymes also stop unhealthy cholesterol deposits in the heart’s arteries. Additionally, blood pressure lowers, immunity increases, and the body become stronger and more flexible. Other common ailments can also be lessened by walking, such as headaches, neck pain, anxiety, and insomnia.

It’s easy to find opportunities to take a walk, and taking part in a regular walking routine doesn’t require the strict schedule that other forms of exercise do, and it eliminates the cost of joining a pricey gym or having quick fix lipo procedure. Once you establish a walking schedule, you’ll quickly begin to experience the physical and mental well-being that lies ahead.

Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

Walking: An Inexpensive Path To Health and Wellness

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How Bad Is Sitting?

This is a guest post by Maire.

Did you know that sitting for 11 or more hours a day makes you 40 percent more likely to die within the next three years? If that is not enough to scare you out of your desk and onto the walking path over your next lunch break, then consider that sitting for eight to 11 hours a day increases your overall mortality risk by 15 percent. These are scary statistics, yet in a technology-driven world, many people are, often out of necessity, sitting for hours on end. Still there are products that help curb your sitting time. Treadmills and standing desks help long-term sitters get in daily exercise.

The True Danger of Sitting

It isn’t the act of sitting that is necessarily putting Americans in bad health – the lack of exercise occurring from long hours of sitting has created an obesity epidemic. Between the years 1980 and 2000, average exercise times stayed the same, yet sitting times increased by about eight percent in the last decade. During those same years, obesity rates doubled. The more people sit, the fatter they become.

Sitting also inhibits the enzymes that break down fat, decreases insulin effectiveness, and causes a drop in good cholesterol numbers. These are serious situations that put you at an increased risk of developing heart disease. In fact, you are twice more likely to develop heart disease if you sit all day than you would be if you did not.

It may seem obvious that sitting puts you at increased risk for heart disease, since you are not exercising that muscle very much when you sit, but what about another serious killer – cancer? In an analysis published by USA Today, sitting appears to increase a person’s risk of cancer as well. Between this and heart disease, it is no wonder that sitting is such a deadly proposition.

You may think that you are “safe” because you are regularly active during your down time. However, according to the World Health Organization, exercising daily does not do enough to balance the risks of sitting for extended period of time. Thirty minutes of exercise at night may not be enough to counteract a day of sitting.

The Solution

So what can you do if you are stuck in a job that ties you to a desk, but you want to lower the risks that come from sitting? There are excellent options to create a balance schedule. For instance, you can ditch your chair in favor of a standing desk. This means you will stand all day, which may not be very physically active, but still burns 10 percent more energy than sitting.

One option that many people generally aren’t aware of is the treadmill desk. This attaches everything you need for work to a treadmill, so you can walk casually while still getting your work done. Of course, should you need a break, you can also stop and stand for a while. Regardless, you will not be sitting and you will be healthier.

If these options do not work for you, then pay attention to the clock. If you have been sitting for an hour, you need to get up for a bit. Take a walk to the copy machine, head upstairs to discuss something in person with your coworker or go on a quick break to take a walk outside. These will all help you to be more active.

Whatever you do, avoid sitting for extended periods of time. This is not just to keep you trim and toned. Choose active leisure activities over sedentary ones. Your health and life may actually depend on it.

Maire is a fan of yoga and healthy living. She has been practicing a balanced lifestyle of green foods, heart-healthy workouts and natural products for nearly a decade. She writes on behalf of Sears and other quality products she uses in the home.

Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

How Bad Is Sitting?

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For Mark Sanchez, the Opposite of Coddling

The criticism of the Jets quarterback is flowing freely, and it's only May. Consider it good practice for a possibly turbulent season ahead....

Jets and the 46 Defense

The Jets' defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, said earlier this week that he looked forward to using more of the 46 defense next season....

Jets Add Depth at Safety By Signing Bell

The Jets continued their off-season overhaul at safety Friday, signing the veteran Yeremiah Bell, who spent the last eight seasons with Miami, to a one-year deal worth $1.4 million....

Lawrence Taylor Selling Super Bowl Ring; You Can Wear One

A day after the Giants received their Super Bowl rings, the Hall of Fame linebacker put one of his championship rings up for auction....