Friday November 13, 2009
Americans will be reminded of the importance of recycling this Sunday, which is America Recycles Day. Celebrating its 12th year, the day has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials.
Of course, it's important to think about recycling every day of the year. Here are some ways that runners can promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling:
Recycle your used running shoes. There are lots of shoe recycling or donation programs that will put your used shoes to good use.
Find races that are environmentally-friendly. Many races throughout the country are trying to become more green by doing things such as recycling paper and plastic and offering used shoe collection. Check out the Greenteam, a group of races that are making environmentally-friendly changes to their races.
Don't throw away plastic bottles. Use refillable water bottles instead of throwaway plastic bottles during runs and races.
Give your running clothes new life. If you have piles of running clothes that no longer fit you (thanks to weight loss - congrats!), you can sell your used running clothes at a local consignment shop or on sites like eBay or Craiglist. Or, if you have a stack of race T-shirts that you know you'll never wear, donate them to charities such as Goodwill or Salvation Army, or list them on Freecycle.com.
Recycle your electronic gadgets. Runners are known for loving their gadgets and frequently replacing them. Check out Earth 911's website for information on how you can recycle electronic goods such as MP3 players and cell phones.
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Wednesday November 11, 2009
If you're one of those people who continue to run outside despite cold temperatures, blustery wind, and even snowy roads, you've probably heard more than once, "Why would you run outside in this weather?" Or, you may be the person asking that question.
Even if you're new to running, there are ways that you can "train your brain" to run straight through the winter months. Try some of these ideas:
Run with a group or a buddy. Find a local running group or recruit a friend to run with you. Knowing that someone is waiting for you will help motivate you to do those chilly runs.
Get the right clothes. Wearing running clothes that are right for cold weather running makes a huge difference in your comfort and motivation levels. Even though winter running clothes are not cheap, a few quality pieces are worth the investment.
Be prepared to run or work out indoors. Sometimes it's just not safe to run outside when it's extremely cold or very icy. But if you miss a few runs because of bad weather, it's very tempting to then just give it up completely during the winter. Keep up your exercise habit by running on a treadmill or doing other indoor workouts.
Sign up for races. Doing road races throughout the winter is a great way to guarantee you'll a) keep motivated to stay in shape and b) run outside, at least occasionally (for the races).
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Tuesday November 10, 2009
Around this time last year, I was eagerly awaiting the birth of my son. Because he was due a week before Christmas, I made every effort to get all my holiday shopping done in November. By the time he was born on December 15, I had everything bought and wrapped, so I was able to focus on our newborn during the week before Christmas. I was pretty stress-free and relaxed (despite being sleep-deprived) during that time and, as a result, I promised myself I would do the same thing this year, even though we're not expecting another baby.
How's it going so far? Well, to be honest, I haven't started yet. But I'm beginning to make lists and plan to go shopping this weekend. If you're also hoping to get a jump on your holiday shopping or you're looking for ideas for your own wish lists, check out these gift ideas for runners.
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Sunday November 8, 2009
My husband and I are both runners, but we rarely run the same races these days. We have two small children so, when one of us runs a race, the other one is on cheerleading duty with the kids. I'm really excited because this year it's my turn to run our local Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. (My husband gets to do the Santa Run in December.)
I love starting out Thanksgiving with a race because it helps me feel less guilty when I'm reaching for the stuffing or pecan pie later that day. Turkey trots, which are usually 5K or 5-mile fun runs, are a great way to burn some calories before you start feasting. They're also a fun, healthy Thanksgiving Day activity for the whole family, as some communities even offer "tot trots" for younger kids. Search Active.com's Turkey Trot listings to find one near you.
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