Running

As much as I dislike transplanted hipsters who co-opt "Eastside" to describe what is properly the central city, I don't want to cede the central city to the Westside, either. To me and a lot of Angelenos, West L.A. means west of La Cienega, or even west of the 405. - Victor Ganata

HAHA That's very true. WeHo, BH and SM better be kicking in some serious cash. - Anika

"The 25th edition of the race, on March 21, will wind through downtown, pass through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica and end at the beach. Along the 26.2 miles, runners will pass landmarks including City Hall, the Capitol Records Building, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier. "Listen: 26.2 miles is a long way to go on foot," said Russ Pillar, president of the L.A. Marathon. "The easiest way for us to do that is for us to pick a route that inspires." "Everybody's really stoked," said Steve Mackel, 47, a marathon coach from Pasadena who plans to run in the event. "I've never heard people be that excited about a new course as they have about this new L.A. course."" - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Welcome To 13.1® Los Angeles 13.1® Los Angeles is one of the latest craze in themed half-marathons so come ready to experience some of the best. This race is about the run, the fun, the sun, the sights and the experience. It will be truly one of a kind and the most fun running experience of your life! Don't miss out on this inaugural event, register now to insure you will be one of the first to start, finish, and rock 13.1® Los Angeles...Where the Party meets the Pavement!" - Anika from Bookmarklet

Oh maybe I'll do this too... - Anna Lynn M.

"I've coached female runners for more than 15 years. And it seems nearly all of them struggle with the same thing I do: how to squeeze in a run between so many other commitments. As women, we have a tendency to do things for others first and ourselves last. It's a habit that leaves us fatigued, stressed and even unhealthy. But we don't have to let our personal goals suffer because of other obligations. It is possible to balance work, exercise and time with friends and family; it just takes patience and careful planning. To help, follow these eight strategies I've developed to find time for running while maintaining equilibrium in my own busy life." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Come and run in Jamaica's paradise. Negril is as lovely as Nature created it, and has embraced an event that is so natural, all it takes is your breath away! Join us on a mostly flat out and back course running along the North Coast of the island for the full, half marathon, or 10K." - Anika from Bookmarklet

I need to do this. My calendar has been marked for next year. Dec. 4, 2010. I'm running in Negril. - Anika

"ZOOMA Austin Half Marathon, 5K & 20K Relay March 27-28, 2010 Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa, Bastrop/Austin, TX Saturday, March 27: 7:30 a.m. Half marathon & ZOOMA Austin After-Party Expo The ZOOMA Austin half marathon features a challenging course through the Texas countryside and a fabulous post-race party with mini spa treatments, catered brunch, live music, and shopping. Sunday, March 28: 7:30 a.m. 5K & 20K Relay & ZOOMA Austin Pool Party Gather your girlfriends for the ZOOMA Austin 20K Relay! Register with a team of 2 or 4 people. Each team member runs a 5K leg through the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort property. ZOOMA will pair teams of 2 to make complete 4-person teams. Individuals can register for the 5K race. Celebrate after the race at the ZOOMA Austin Pool Party at the Hyatt Lost Pines pool! Run both races and stay the weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa! Average Race Day Temperature: High 77°F Low 55°F" - Anika from Bookmarklet

Are you considering doing this? Austin really is beautiful in March, it is the best time to visit, imo. - Andrizzle Gizzle

Thinking of it, but it's silly. If I go to SXSW, I'd be in Austin, come back to LA for the marathon, then go back to Austin? - Anika

"The Basics of Chi Running ChiRunning focuses on posture, leg swing, the position of the pelvis and a forward lean. It's not a fluffy, hippie theory--it's based on the physics of body mechanics. Here are the basics: Run Tall. Think about this: When you're standing straight, your joints are in alignment and your skeleton is supporting your weight. When you run, you want to keep this alignment so your skeleton continues to be involved. It's common, however, for runners to slump the shoulders or bend at the waist, which then requires the leg muscles to support most of the body weight, instead of the stronger skeleton. By maintaining good posture, you lessen the amount of work your legs have to do and move more efficiently." - Anika from Bookmarklet

Well, the article covers the basics. The book gets more into the philosophy of Chi and then applies to the running technique. Then there are some tips about race day and such. Then a chapter that helps troubleshoot what you're doing. For example, if your knees hurt you're probably doing this wrong. If your back hurts, you're doing that wrong, etc. I personally don't know if I buy the... more... - Jared B. Luther

"Positive self-talk makes a significant influence on event performance. Develop at least one positive mantra to use during the race. Some suggestions include: "I'm fit, I'm good, I'm fast." "Every day, in every way, I'm better, stronger, happier." "I'm healthy, I'm happy, I'm light on my feet." Mantras can be performance-oriented or feeling-oriented. When you find your mind wandering into the land of negative self-talk, use one of your mantras to change your mindset." - Anika from Bookmarklet

I'm still trying to get my RSS to feed into Strands, but I've given up on DailyBurn since it doesn't give me the latitude to log my workouts like this. - Anika from Bookmarklet

Agreed - Tracy Benham

"Seven years ago, at the age of 34, Coates was a prisoner in her own 300-pound body. Coates knew her own choices had put her there. She'd deprived her body of exercise and devoured double portions of fast food. "I've always struggled with my weight," says Coates, who stands six feet tall. "When I was young, my grandmother would give me food and candy, so I associated food with the kindness and love that she gave me." Coates attempted to get in shape in 1987 after giving birth to her daughter, Ebonee, and then again in 1997 when she had to pass a physical agility test for her job. But the healthy habits never stuck. Things came to a head in March 2002. Coates's husband, Ron, and Ebonee, then 15, were away at a high school basketball tournament. Coates sat home alone binging on burgers and fries, moribund and miserable. "I had been raising Ebonee to take care of herself, and I realized I wasn't doing the same for myself," Coates says. "I finally got tired of being sick and tired. I decided to take control of my life. I decided to get strong."" - Anika from Bookmarklet

I keep going back to the part where she said she figured out she was a runner. I used to hate running. In high school, we had to run every Monday during PE. Hated it. A lot of it had to do with my lack of proper clothing. But I've found that despite being in pain from my allergies and foot, when I get out there and start running, it's often hard to stop. - Anika

"Tunes for running, jogging, and working out exactly to the beat of your music. The best running music, workout songs, a podcast, playlists and mixes, iMixes, and links to iTunes Music Stores and Amazon/MP3. And we determine the BPMs (beats-per-minute) so you don't have to!" - Anika from Bookmarklet

"The Los Angeles race is now in its ninth year and has expanded yearly. Thousands of runners participate allowing us to contribute towards the education of children – teaching them the truth about drugs and what they do to the body and mind. The Say No To Drugs Race is for all ages and ability levels. The race is organized and produced by Team Against Drugs – basically a small group of people being active about drug education and awareness in our community. Last year there were over 2,000 participants. The race participants and spectators were sworn in as Drug-Free Marshals – this is a popular program with youth groups and police enforcement agencies, which helps educate and empower youth in the the fight against widespread drug use." - Anika from Bookmarklet

The truth about drugs? That sounds more like the normal spiel that "drugs are bad, okay. Don't do drugs". When we will actually start telling the truth about drugs, especially the fact that the "war on drugs" is not working, and it never will. - Robert Felty

"Brief Description Join us on Friday, August 7, 2009 for our first Live Run Enjoy Jazz running tour and concerts. Reservations for this event must be made no later than 12:00PM on event day. The running tour participants will meet at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), located at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA at 3:45PM. Please park you car in the LACMA parking lot, located on 6th Street, east of Fairfax. Please email offnrun@westworld.com prior to registering. Pre-register for each running tour We suggest you contact our offices by phone, 310-246-1418 or email offnrun@westworld.com prior to registering. Our group size is limited, so please call to make sure there is room on that date. Live Run Enjoy Jazz Friday night run & concert Our first Live Run Enjoy Jazz event takes place on Friday, August 7. 2009, running through November 20, 2009. We plan to offer this event every Friday night, through the end of the jazz concert series in November, weather permitting.... more... - Anika from Bookmarklet

3:45pm. $50. They clearly are catering to a certain economic subset with this tour. I figured that $50, I could make a damn find picnic for my entire family, run around the park by myself and then mosey over to the courtyard for Jazz. Because save the running, that's what we've always done. - Anika

"Breathtaking, Fast and Flat Course * Perhaps no other Half-Marathon course in the country can match the scenery of this Long Beach event. The Half course is flat and fast and runs 100% along the shoreline. Visit the Course Section for detailed information. * The course time limit for Marathon & Half Marathon is 7.5 hours * Click here for the Half Marathon Mile Locations" - Anika from Bookmarklet

Sort of. I'm training for the LA Marathon, but want to do at least 3 half-marathons between now and March. This is the closest and earliest one I may be ready for. - Anika

"Finally, the L.A. Marathon will make it to the Pacific. The new "Stadium to the Sea" route has received the imprimatur of the cities along the course, ensuring that runners next March 21 will have the point-to-point route they and organizers have favored. On Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council approved the plan to end the race at the ocean. Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood had already signed off on the dramatically altered route, which will begin at Dodger Stadium and pass through some of the region's best-known locations. Although the final 26.2-mile route has not been set, it is expected to wind through West Hollywood and along the Sunset Strip, proceed to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and, ultimately, pass through the Westside along San Vicente Boulevard to the ocean. In past years, runners have loped along a loop route through parts of the city not known for their stunning scenery." - Anika from Bookmarklet

I guess that's good. As I get hotter running the course, I'll end up in nice ocean breezes. OTOH, that's practically a citywide shut down and the idea of sitting on shuttles & buses with stinky runners does NOT appeal to me. Maybe I can take the bus or cab it to the stadium and have Adrian meet me at the end of the course. - Anika

And big wow from the article: Found out an old friend of ours is mayor of Santa Monica. I did not know that. - Anika

Seriously thinking of running this 1/2 marathon. I thought it was in Flagstaff at first, but now that I realize it's in Phoenix, I can do this. Crash at my friend's house and then drive back home. - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Mission and Purpose: The Pasadena Pacers provides a running club in an environment of commitment, inspiration, and enthusiasm that will lead to a state of ultimate fitness and vitality for all members. The club exists to help individuals achieve a level of fitness they never before thought possible, while enjoying the fellowship of others." - Anika from Bookmarklet

Sounds great, go for it! - Michelle

"With a phenomenal race day finisher’s rate of 99%, Roadrunners is a proven training program. Since 1990, the Roadrunners have helped nearly 30,000 people cross the finish line on race day. The Roadrunners Training Program Includes: * 27 weeks of training * Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced runners are welcome! * Running, Run/Walk and Walking Pace Groups * Lectures by nutrition, medical & athletic experts * Interactive website * Experienced pace leaders trained to make your training and marathon experience rewarding * Training t-shirt * Training manual with complete training calendar - available online * Training day water stations and Gatorade replacement fluid * Special race day accommodations - including special corral at the front of the start line directly behind the Elite Runners * Gait analysis and personal performance evaluation * Specialized form and technique instruction * Social events * Roadrunners special waiting and warm-up area prior to the marathon including bathroom... more... - Anika from Bookmarklet

Are there any Roadrunners on FF? If so, what was your experience like? - Marie is organized.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Roadrunners, but I can't believe there's not a group in at least Pasadena or one that meets in Griffith Park. I don't know if I have the motivation to drive all the way to Venice so early in the morning. On a Saturday. For over half a year. <lazy> - Anika

"Cryotherapy ("cold therapy") constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body. "Ice baths don't only suppress inflammation, but help to flush harmful metabolic debris out of your muscles," says David Terry, M.D., an ultrarunner who has finished both the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and the Wasatch Front 100-Mile Endurance Run 10 consecutive times. Though you could use individual ice packs, cold-water immersion generally produces a greater and longer lasting change in deep tissues and is more a more efficient means of cooling large groups of muscles simultaneously. The discomfort associated with sitting in a tub full of ice water scares off some athletes. I admit that after my long... more... - Anika from Bookmarklet

I have YET to try the ice bath. Sounds so cold! brrrr - Julianne

There's another part about the same race: "I attempted to catch Matthew McConaughey, but he's surprisingly speedy. He also runs like a girl--a very fast girl." ROFLMAO - Anika

How does he have the energy, ya know, being a sex addict and all? :) - Richard ¿digame? Walker

"5k Run • Aquathlon • 1 Mile Swim • 1 Mile Sand Sprint - all summer long! The 4 event series has stops at some of the top beach cities along the Southern California Coast. We guarantee some fun at the beach, "friendly" competition and a post event party that'll knock your socks off. Participants can choose between a 5k Run, an aquathlon (swim/run) a 1 mile swim or a 1 mile sand sprint. Points will be awarded for the top finishers for each event. At the end of the season, we'll award the King and Queen of the Beach Awards. Check out the site often as we'll be adding updates weekly." - Anika from Bookmarklet

"Shelly laughed and patiently explained that by sitting in the ice, my body would respond by restricting blood flow to the extremities submerged in ice (in this case, my lower half), while pushing all of the lactic acid - or junk built up from the workout - out of my legs and into my lymphatic system therefore helping to speed recovery. The ice cold water would stimulate my body to restrict blood flow to the damaged muscles and tissues, help reduce swelling from the micro-tears gained from the workout, and feel really really good about 2 hours after the bath. And then she stretched my hamstrings. I winced, and decided then and there, that after the next difficult workout (time trial, race, or just butt-bursting-pain-kind-of-workout) I would buy 40 pounds of ice, and hop into the bath asap." - Anika from Bookmarklet

From the Apps Room - Anika

Thanks for the reshare, Anika ;) - Paul Whitaker

Runners, Walkers, Family and Friends....Join us on Sunday, April 19th for a FUN day at Lake Balboa Park in Encino, near the 405 and 101 freeways in beautiful San Fernando Valley. It's the 7th annual Victory for Victims 5K & 8K River Run & Walk. This year's new course goes past the beautiful lake and along the LA River. Plan to stay and enjoy the fabulous Finish Line Festival and Expo....free food, loads of family fun, celebrities, autographs, music, prizes and more! Form a Team from your workplace or with your family and friends! Come out for a great time supporting a great cause. Proceeds benefit Northridge Hospital's Center for Assault Treatment Services (CATS) www.abuse-assaultservices.org - Anika from Bookmarklet

"The only company to offer guided running tours of the country's top tourist destinations – New York City, Chicago, San Diego, Washington, DC, Charleston and Austin – City Running tours allows runners to explore hidden parts of cities on foot with a trained guide and runner. Ideal for the business traveler who is tired of on the hotel treadmill, the marathon runner who is training for a race and is looking to continue or spice up their regular routine, or the recreational runner who wants to explore new and interesting routes, City Runners Tours offers both set tours as well as customized runs to accommodate any athletic ability, style, training regimen or specific landmarks." - Anika

Oh, they moved this due to the fires. It will now be in March. Training begins anew today-ish. - Anika

"Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS, and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages." - Anika from Bookmarklet