Regina's mission, el Guerrouj clocks another fast time, why you should eat more blueberries, good news for Type 2 diabetes sufferers, a chat with Suzy Favor Hamilton, and how to pack that pre-race bag.
Regina's unfinished business: 1500 meters is Regina Jacobs's best distance, and she's hoping to be as successful at it during the Olympics as she has been at the World Championships. But after setting a 5000 meter American Record at the Olympic Trials two weeks ago, Jacobs and her coach are still deciding whether she should compete in both events. She may wait until after today's (August 11) Zurich 3000 before making a decision.
Hicham El Guerrouj clocked the eighth fastest mile in history - and the fastest mile ever on British soil - at last weekend's Norwich Union British Grand Prix. At 3:45.96, his mile was seconds off his world record 3:43.13 set in Rome last July. The 25-year-old Moroccan is moving on to longer distances next year, and hopes to run the 5000 meters at the 2004 Olympics.
After four weeks of injury-free training, Khalid Khannouchi ran the Beach to Beacon 10-K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine last weekend. The ankle and groin injuries that forced him to miss the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and the Track and Field Trials appear to have healed, and Khannouchi hopes to return to "hard but cautious" training. A fall marathon may be in his future, but he has yet to commit to a particular race.
As you exercise, your muscles use up stored carbohydrates and become thirsty for a replenishing supply of sugar from the blood. It is the role of your liver to supply this sugar, but it, too, is running out of carbohydrates. This drying up of body carbohydrates brings on a feeling of light-headedness and weakness. Drinking a sports drink or eating a carbohydrate food will give your muscles and brains this crucial supply of carbohydrates to delay inevitable fatigue. - from Liz Applegate’s Power Foods, page 66. You can buy this book at: http://rodalepress7.cam-colo.bbnplanet.com:8080/T/A77.88.17.2.4528
Make the Change: A small change in your lifestyle now, can have a big impact on how healthy you are later in life. Researchers in Finland found that the incidence of Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 58 percent in people at high risk for the disease. The small change involves modest weight loss of less than 10 pounds, combined with a healthy diet, and regular exercise such as running. This is good news if you have a family history of diabetes, chronic high blood pressure, or are overweight.
Fountain of Youth: If you're looking for a magical fruit that can reverse the effects of aging, then look no further than blueberries. A study conducted by Tufts University tested cognitive and motor behaviors of rats when they were given blueberry, spinach, or strawberry supplementation. All three had positive effects on the rats, with blueberries showing the most improvement in the older rats.
Suzy Favor Hamilton ran a personal best of 3:57.40 to beat an Olympic caliber 1500-meter field at Oslo's Bislett Games on July 28. On August 1, she ran another personal best of 1:58.10 for 800 meters in Stockholm, placing seventh. She qualified for her third Olympic team by placing second to Regina Jacobs in the 1500 [4:01.01 to 4:01.81] at the U.S. Trials in Sacramento last month. Runner's World spoke with Favor Hamilton: http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/2000/August/000804.html#chat
If you’re running with a friend who’s slower than you, stay half a stride behind him or her throughout the run. Otherwise you might unconsciously push the pace beyond your friend’s comfort level. - Alisa Bauman, RW senior editor
I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart. - Mike Fanelli, club coach