Worth Reading

 * Ready for a new challenge? Try reverse running.

* Outside magazine puts Tough Mudder’s First Death Into Context.

* Beautiful with brains: Why the whole concept of a bikini body is bunk.

* The running racket: How big business wrecked the marathon. “The average entry fee for the top 25 U.S. marathons has gone up 35 percent since 2007, to $112—three and a half times faster than inflation—according to the industry association RunningUSA.”

Video of the Week

Friend and fellow runner, Rob Frank, and his crew — including runner Matt Kleck, filmed this awesome Beast on the Bay promo video during the 3-mile trial run:

HOWEVER…..there’s an even BETTER one of Matt Kleck doing a total face-plant in the lake. His “friend” Robb slowed down the video and added sound…it’s hilarious.  If you know Matt or Rob or work out with Steve Krauza and his Team Adrenaline gang, ask them about it, and I’m sure they’ll share it with you.

Here’s a screen grab:

Poster of the week

FACT:

T-Shirt of the Week

Available here in various styles starting at $14.99

I <3 this perspective on running from Runner’s World  magazine:

“It’s the only sport in the world where if a competitor falls, the others around will pick him or her up. It’s the only sport in the world open to absolutely everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or any other division you can think of. It’s the only occasion when thousands of people assemble, often in a major city, for a reason that is totally peaceful, healthy and well-meaning. It’s the only sport in the world where no one ever boos anybody.”

“It’s tempting to focus your training on building toward harder workouts, and schedule rest when your body “needs” it. Studies have found that inexperienced athletes make exactly this mistake, steadily increasing training until fatigue or injury forces them to back off—then repeating the cycle.  Experienced athletes deliberately plan their recovery. By taking a rest before it’s necessary, they end up accumulating more training overall.”

— Alex Hutchnson, Runner’s World magazine, January 2013

Winter is a the time to rest and let your body heal. Some might even say that rest (and a little winter weight gain) is exactly what nature intended for us to do in the cold, dark days of winter.

If you’re forcing yourself out in the worst of weather, hell-bent on achieving more and more and more, ask  yourself why. What is to be gained and do you honestly think that missing one workout (or two or three or five) is really going to hurt you? I’ve been running long enough to know the answer to that question.  If you don’t know the answer yet, you will, grasshopper….you will.