Runcast 65 – Runners live longer / fighting side stitch and sleep issues

Today on the podcast: a study proves that people who run live longer than people who don’t. The study was done over a long period of time and gives an insight on how much running may be too much. Next, the sleep issues which can prevent you from getting enough deep sleep your body needs for rest and recovery. Finally, we give you four tips on things you can do to stop the side stitch.

Runcast 65

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Links:
Jogging regularly can add years to your life
How to overcome common sleep issues and get enough rest
Four Ways to Stop the Dreaded Side Stitch
Canadian Running magazine

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Runcast 64 – How to wash your gear / Running in pregnancy

Today’s episode will mostly interest female listeners. We’re exploring whether it’s safe to run during pregnancy, with a few tips for pregnant runners. Before that, we briefly talk about washing and maintaining your special running clothing so it lasts longer, look nice and smell fresh.

Runcast 64

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Links:
Woman gives birth after running Chicago Marathon
Ask coach Jenny: Running & Pregnancy: Can I Train to Run a Half Marathon?
Running for Two: Guidelines for Pregnant Runners

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Runcast 63 - Trail running and safety

Mihira Lakshman, editor in chief of Canadian Running magazine, talks about trail running and how it compares to road running. He also tells a story about a bizarre kind of extreme trail running in which prospectors in Northern Ontario hire trail runners to stake valuable mining claims. The story sounds like something from a western movie. Finally, we talk about safety when running on trails alone and we'll give you some tips to help you run and return safely from your trail run.

Correction:
In the podcast I wrongly state that Micah True, "Caballo Blanco" was found dead in Texas, while in fact his body was found in New Mexico.

Runcast 63

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Links:
Canadian Running magazine
Running icon found dead in New Mexico

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Runcast 62 - Understanding running pain / Alternatives to sold-out big races

For all of you who run for training, you know that with it comes certain amount of pain. I will tell you about the “good pain, the bad pain and the ugly pain,” what they mean and what to do about them.

As marathons get more and more popular, it’s getting really difficult to register for some of the big races. But, there could be alternatives, and I will tell you about them

Runcast 62
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Links:
Runners: Pay attention to pain
The Marathon - More Popular Than Ever
Marathons and the Invisible Hand of the Market
Marathon numbers
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon
Vancouver Marathon
Victoria Marathon
Niagara Falls Marathon
Around the Bay Road Race
Get Out There Magazine

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Runcast 61 - Afternoon naps are not good for you / Become a morning runner

A sleep doctor tells us why napping in the afternoon is not good for an athlete. Then, another doctor helps us adjust our lifestyle to become a morning runner.

Runcast 61
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Links:
Hockey pre-game nap as outdated as wood sticks
Rise And Run: How To Become A Morning Runner
Lite Book
Philips Wake-up light

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Runcast 60 - Finding your happy pace / Running with period

Today we help you to find your happy pace. That’s the pace when you feel like you could run forever and more, when you body runs on auto-pilot and when there’s almost no effort in maintaining your speed.

After that, we try to answer a very womanly question - how to train and run during period. We borrowed heavily from the writing of the renowned running coach and Runner’s World magazine columnist Jenny Hadfield.

Runcast 60
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Links:
Tips for Finding Your Running or Jogging Pace
How Your Period Effects Your Training

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Runcast 59 - Prevent back pain when running / Pacing and racing tips

Today I talk about preventing back pain when running. Some statistics show that almost a third of working men and more than two out of ten working women in North America suffer from some form of back pain. While running itself is rarely the cause of it, there are things good to know about your back if you’re a runner.

Later I will share a few running tips from an Ironman coach which will help you improve your pacing and racing.

Runcast 59
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Links:
Running and looking after your back
Six Ironman Marathon Secrets

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Runcast 58 - Is marathon harmful for the heart, or not? / Vitamin D

There have been lot of controversy lately whether running a marathon is going to kill you or not. In the wake of recent deaths during marathon and half-marathon races, two studies were published, with exactly opposite conclusions as to how harmful is an endurance race to your heart. I will talk about both.

Later, I’ll tell you how important vitamin D is for everyone, but especially for runners. Did you know it can help prevent overuse injuries and inflammation? Listen on and I will explain how it works.

Runcast 58
Play the podcast by clicking the play button, or download by right-clicking HERE, then choose save (or download) file as...

Links:

Distance Running and Endurance Sports Can Be Hard on the Heart

Running marathons isn’t bad for your heart, study finds

Men’s Health: Can Running Kill You?

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Runcast 57 - Running makes you smarter / How to fall without injury

Today I am going to boost your ego and tell you how smart you are for being a runner. Listen on, because I will give you the scientific proof that it’s really true - running makes you smarter.

Then I’ll bring you down - I will talk about taking a fall during a run, and how to fall safely. That may be easier said than done, but listen on, you can pick up a few tips that may save you from hurting yourself if you trip and fall.

Runcast 57
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Links:

Yaktrax Canada

“Spark, The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain”

San Marcos’ Daily Record’s column on connection between exercise and brain

Toronto Midnite Run - the New Year’s run and party

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Runcast 56 - Post-holidays weight loss / breathing tips

Useful weight-loss tips after the season of over-eating. Also - how to breathe properly on the run.

Runcast 56
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Links:

Daily Burn
Daily Mile

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Runcast 55 - What is ElliptiGO?

I recently test drove ElliptiGO. It’s an elliptical trainer on wheels. To help me explain what elliptigo is and what it does, I am joined by Bruce Raymer, a marathoner with a decade on Canadian national team, a running coach and a go-to guy for Elliptigo in Canada. He recently came back from the World Championships in ElliptiGO where he won bronze medal.

Runcast 55
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Links:

ElliptiGO Canada

Elliptigo International

Zoran test-driving ElliptiGO

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Runcast 54 - Why are Kenyans so fast?

In this episode we talk about Kenyans, and later we'll have more audiobooks recommendations.

“Kenyan” has become a synonym for a fast runner. There are running courses promising to teach you to run like a Kenyan, and there are training plans with names like “from couch to Kenyan.” In short, running like a Kenyan is the greatest achievement in distance running these days. But, why is it that Kenyans are so good, so fast and so dominant?

To try to find an explanation I turned to a friend of Runcast, a scientist-runner and an editor at Canadian Running magazine, Alex Hutchinson.

Runcast 54
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Links:

Alex Hutchinson: Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights
Sweat Science blog

Audiobooks:

“The Memory of Running" by Ron McLarty
Carlos Ruiz Zafon

RunCast's new voicemail: (+1) 516-441-0112

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Runcast 53 – Take a Winter break / Audiobooks for running

A break from running will keep you going longer; and a few audiobooks for running bibliophiles.

This is the time of the year when the marathon season winds down and the holiday season approaches. There will be a lot of food on the table and much less running. Most of the runners I know usually feel guilty during the holidays season, and try to push on with their schedule. In its December’s issue, Runners World magazine teaches us that it’s OK to scale back and enjoy time with family and friends. And don’t forget to enjoy the food too.

Do you read while you run? In this podcast I’ll recommend a few good audiobooks to get you going and keep you running.

Runcast 53
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Runcast 52 - Rainy Runs / Runcations / Fauja Singh

Today, a few words about the world oldest marathon runner and his fight to get into the Guinness Book of Records. Then, a few tips for rainy days runs. Finally, some thoughts about the running vacation, or runcation.

Runcast 52
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Links:

9 Tips for Training in the Rain
Guinness won’t recognize Fauja Singh’s record
Mike's SightRunning Berlin

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Runcast 51 - Runner’s face and Berlin marathon

Running makes the body toned, but the face falls apart. Why does runner's face look older than runner's body?
Also, the report from 2011 Berlin Marathon and why you should consider running it.

Runcast 51
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Running track on the sports floor in Galeria department store in Berlin, Germany.

2011 Berlin Marathon finisher's medal

Links:

Some aging runners are turning to plastic surgery to mask fat-burning effects
RW Daily: Do You Suffer From… Runner's Face?
Paula Radcliffe lobbies IAAF in world record fight

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Runcast 50 - Relax, it’s taper time!

Tapering before a big race is the perfect time to reflect on training and plan race strategy.

The Fall season is here, with all the goal races which made us run like crazy the whole summer. Today’s podcast is a little different in the way that it’s more personal, although I hope there will still be enough information in it for you to find it useful. And, hopefully, entertaining.

Runcast 50
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Links:

McRunner breaks his marathon time after burger diet
Emily Strunk-Helm runs on McDonald’s
Tony Morrison to run carrying a fridge

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Runcast 49 - How to slow down on easy days / Race pace workouts

The importance of running easy and two workouts to nail your race-pace: Yasso’s 800s and The Simulator.

Today I’d like to point out the arguably most common mistake runners make in training - running too fast. Or, rather, not running slow enough. I’ll explain the importance of the easy run and how to do it without feeling like a slacker. Later on, I’ll tell you about two fantastic workouts to test your goal race pace - Yasso’s 800s and the simulator. I’ll explain the two, their differences and how to incorporate them into your training.

Runcast 49
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Links:

Training pace calculator
Yasso’s 800s
The Simulator

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Runcast 48 - iSmoothRun app review and giveaway / Running Safety

The best iPhone running app; safety tips for runners

There are so many running apps for smart phones, that it's almost impossible to pick the best one. I don't claim that I found the best, but I found the one that seems the best for me. On this pocast, I will talk about iSmoothRun app for iPhone, which does wonders to log my runs and update my social networks. And, if you stick until the end of the segment, I will tell you how you can win the code to download iSmoothRun app for free, curtesy of Lake Horizon Ltd., the app's creators.

Later on, I will give you some important tips to run safely.

Runcast 48
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Links:

iSmoothRun App review on Runcast
iSmoothRun web page
Safety Tips for Runners on runtheplanet.com

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Runcast 47 - Chasing the Runner’s High

Comparing running to alcohol addiction in the book by Ray Charbonneau. Please, run responsibly.

Ray Charbonneau, a runner, an ultra-marathoner and an author of "Chasing the Runner's High" joins me on the phone from Arlington near Boston, MA, to talk about his book and running in general.

Runcast 47
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Link:

Chasing the Runner's High book page

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Runcast 46 - Why do you run?

Also - hot tips to keep cool in the heat, and how to recover after long runs.

I’d like to ask you something: Why do you run? It seems simple enough question, but is it, really?

Also, over here in Canada we are getting really hot. And I mean literally HOT. The temperatures are around 35 degrees Celsius - which is 95 Fahrenheit, and with humidity you can easily add 10 or more degrees to that. I’ll tell you how to make your hot summer runs cooler.

Last time we talked about the importance of recovery in general. This time I’ll give you some tips to speed up recovery after your long run.

Runcast 46
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Links:

Video: What do you run for?

How to recover after a long run

Runner’s World: Pre-hydration and hydration for the long run

“Chasing The Runner’s High” by Ray Charbonneau

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