We are less than four months away from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The big spring marathons are almost upon us. The Boston Marathon is April 21, and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials will be held in Boston the day before. The
London Marathon is April 13. We also had some big races this past weekend. Washington held the 36th annual
Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. A
couple of new faces won the race. Over on the west coast, San Diego hosted the
Carlsbad 5000. A lot of the
prerace coverage focused on U.S. 1500 meter record holder Alan Webb’s participation. Unfortunately, Webb
mysteriously dropped out with less than a mile to go.
Push It Early for Your Best 5K
Maybe Webb should have followed the advice of the
Toronto Globe and Mail. The paper
concludes that the best strategy for the 5K is to go out fast and hold on. The article cites a study that argues that the race is too short to hold back. You can find an abstract of the study
here.
Is It Getting Hot in Here?
Heat has played a role in several Olympic marathons. The 1960 Rome marathon started late in the day to avoid the heat. At the 1964 Tokyo games, many runners dropped out because of the heat and humidity. The
Washington Post recounts the astonishing story of how U.S. coaches prepared for the heat and humidity at the 2004 games in Athens. The unknown hero: an American food service worker.
This Week’s Must Read
In the northern hemisphere, we are nearing the start of summer. National Public Radio
examines some of the common myths about water, including how much you should drink each day. Be sure to check out the accompanying pieces for special material for athletes.
Quick Hits
Go ahead, eat that ice cream. The
Toronto Globe and Mail has an article that
says that female runners who skimp on fat are most likely to be injured. The
Los Angeles Times spotlights some new gear designed for triathletes. The
Toronto Globe and Mail notes how modern conveniences, including pre-peeled baby carrots and garage door openers, have robbed us of opportunities to actually move. The
Age in Australia
examines how you can be both fit and fat at the same time. The
San Diego Union-Tribune has a feature with Joaquim Cruz, who won the gold medal in the 800 meters at the 1984 Olympics. Cruz shows you
the proper way to warm up for peak performance.
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