Archive for May, 2006

Chicago Marathon…

May 30th, 06 / 0 Comments

Having never run a marathon before and being moderatly limited in my exposure to organized running events, I can’t really imagine what running with 40,000 other people must be like. I am running the Twin Cities Marathon in October and that is limited at 10,000 and even that seems like a lot of people.

Here is some information from a recent post on CoolRunning.com.

CHICAGO (May 26, 2006) The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon reached its 40,000 participant cap today and has officially closed registration sooner than ever nearly five months in advance of the October 22 Race. A limited number of entries are still available to runners through the 60 charities affiliated with the 2006 Marathon. International runners can access a limited number of entries through several tour partners. Registration for this year’s event closed two months earlier than it did for last year’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Cool Running :: LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Closes Registration



If you are running the Chicago Marathon – good luck! I hope all goes well for you, it truly does sound like a lot of fun!

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Is this really news?

May 30th, 06 / 0 Comments

‘Extreme Drinking’ Common at Colleges

I guess I thought this was a fairly well known fact… From the article:

The surveys showed that a “surprisingly large percentage of
students, particularly males, drink at peak levels well beyond the
binge threshold,” write White and colleagues.

The findings include:

  • 1 in 5 men reported drinking 10 or more drinks on at least one day (double men’s binge-drinking threshold).
  • 1 in 10 women reported drinking 8 or more drinks on at least one day (double women’s binge-drinking threshold).
  • Nearly 8% of men reported drinking 15 or more drinks on at least one day (triple men’s binge-drinking threshold).
  • Nearly 2% of women reported drinking 12 or more drinks on at least one day (triple women’s binge-drinking threshold).

Extreme drinking was most common among men. People who frequently
passed the binge-drinking threshold were the most likely to have at
least one extreme drinking episode in the previous two weeks.

About 55% of all students reported drinking alcohol in the two weeks
before the survey. Most didn’t engage in extreme drinking, the
researchers also report.

The average number of drinks per occasion were almost six for men
and nearly four for women. Underage men and women averaged slightly
fewer drinks per occasion (about four for men and three for women).

‘Extreme Drinking’ Common at Colleges

Interesting to see in an organized study, but not really ‘groundbreaking’ stuff…

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Music and Healing

May 30th, 06 / 0 Comments

A recent article on WebMD pointed to the effects listening to music may have on those who suffer from chronic pain.

A study in June’s Journal of Advanced Nursing shows that adults with chronic pain reported less pain, depression, and disability and felt more empowered after a week of listening to music for an hour a day.

It didn’t matter what kind of music they listened to, the study shows.

To those of us who have been through medical issues, this is not really news. But, it is reassuring to see that the medical community is finding validity in the wonderful effects of music in the healing process. For me I clearly remember shortly after my 2nd surgery in a month, walking on a treadmill, listening to some of my favorite music and smiling. People around me probably thought I was insane, walking on a treadmill with a big wide grin on my face – but really, I couldn’t help it. I felt full of hope and overall happiness. I attribute some of this to the music running through my head, still today it energizes me, makes me bounce in my seat, and gives me a little rush.

I listen to a pretty broad range of music. You can check out some of my music on my Last.fm site. I haven’t been sending them information as much as I’d like lately, but you’ll see a pretty good overview of what I listen to. Right now, as I type this, I’m listening to Live – Songs from Black Mountain. This is a really good album, full of good rocking tunes with an overall positive feel.

I say, listen to music everyday and you’ll feel just a little bit better. Find something you like and can relate to, to me lyrics are as important as the overall sound. I like music that speaks to me, that I can relate to on a personal level. That might mean that sometimes I need some angry, aggressive music (like Linkin Park for example) while other times I want something more low key and easy to listen to (maybe some JoshGroban). Overall, music makes me feel better. How about you?

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Running…

May 24th, 06 / 0 Comments

…is hard work. Enough said.

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X-Bike

May 23rd, 06 / 0 Comments

X-BikeI found this interesting review of the X-Bike on Wired News (via Uber Review) and it looked really interesting to me.  If you go to the X-bike
web site, you’ll see a short video of how this thing actually works.  Basically, the premise is that the X-Bike more closely mimics the actual workout achieved from riding a bike on the road vs. a stationary bike.  The X-bike has revolutionary handlebars that actually rock and roll with the rider much the same way a road bike will bend and flex as the rider exerts force on the pedals.  The tension in the handlebars can be adjusted for the rider and the bike comes in multiple sizes for
different riders.

For about the last year or so I have been going to Spin class (indoor group cycling) at my local YMCA a couple of times a week.  I have thought for a while that a real road feel is one thing that the spin bikes lack.  They are almost too smooth and stable.  This solves that problem, it forces you to use your trunk a little more to provide upper body stability because it’s not built in to the bike.  It also allows the work you do on your trainer to transition a little better to the road. 
Bottom-line, your workouts will be more useful and provide a better base for real road riding.

Without actually riding it, I can’t say for sure that it really feels like the road, but judging by the pictures and video I’d have to say that they are at least on the right track.  I’d love to get my hands on one of these and use it for a while, but at $2,100 I doubt that I’m going to be riding one anytime soon.  From the X-Bike web site:

A single piece of cardio equipment that will satisfy all your personal training needs, keep you immersed and engaged while improving your fitness and above all, coming back for more.

The total-body X-Bike is the only indoor cycle that incorporates Trixter’s patented X-Bars handlebar mechanism that allows the rider to engage the upper body and core musculature along with the legs cardiovascular system. This total-body workout provides substantially improved fitness benefits while bringing the natural movements of outdoors cycling indoors.  

The handlebar movement also promotes improved balance and coordination functions further enhancing the effectiveness of regular X-Bike rides.

Cowling-mechanism2

Another difference between the X-Bike and traditional spin or stationary bike is that the X-Bike proves 32  gear shifting (rather than a typical tension dial) for different levels of resistance as well as a freewheeling drive train.  This is a complete 180 from typical spin bikes which are fixed wheel – if you stop the wheel stops – and this again seems much more realistic and true to road riding. 

Very cool indeed!

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