Cesar Garcia Urbano Taylor

Rejoice This #NationalPeanutButterDay This article is not about me, nor is it about my love of one particular food (though I’m pretty sure that will come through loud and clear). No, this is about the ever-satisfying, wholesome snack that fuels runners like myself all over the world. This is about peanut butter. I’ve got to hand it to bananas and pasta: both are established staples in the traditional runner’s diet. But when it comes down to it, I’d rather live my whole life without them than go a year without peanut butter. To me, the stuff tastes as much like nuts as it does victory. It tastes like the joyful exertion of a final kick, like the jittery nerves of a starting line. Simply put, it reminds me of running–and rightfully so, as it has powered me through countless races. Peanut butter is my go-to before long runs and my craving after tough workouts. In this, I’m not alone. As runners, we need a food that is packable and nonperishable, versatile and nutrient-dense. Ten times...

The key to all training is preparation, but the winter months can be especially brutal in preparing to tackle 26.2. Let this serve as your guide to making it to the start of your spring marathon raring to go! Break It Up If you can, break long runs into two parts, doing a portion of each throughout the day. Maybe tackle the bulk of your mileage on the treadmill in the morning when temperatures are especially cold and finish it off later in the day when you can run outside more comfortably. Worried about breaking up what should be a continuous long run? Don’t. Studies confirm that breaking a long run (a 20-miler, for example) into two parts within a six- to eight-hour period  will not negatively impact your training   as long as that is not the only way you are logging your long runs. Get On The Tread I know this may not be a popular choice, but if you can learn to endure the treadmill, your marathon training may become more consistent. There are times when you cannot...

Race Lesson Learned:   If you have your slowest race ever, there might be an underlying issue. Race: Charleston Half Marathon Date: January 16, 2016 Location: Charleston, S.C. Steph’s Time: 2:00:00 (my worst half marathon performance to date) For months prior to this race, I suspected that something was off. On all of my runs I felt sluggish, weak and lethargic. I had trouble achieving speeds that were normally my “easy run” pace. In denial, I chalked it up to the winter blues. But after my particularly discouraging race performance in Charleston, I decided to go to the doctor. My blood work explained the culprit: severe iron deficiency. Related: 10 Ways To Boost Your Iron Intake My incredibly low iron levels were impairing my aerobic processes, muscle metabolism and endurance performance. I listened intently as my doctor explained that my body was not producing enough hemoglobin and thus was not able to transport oxygen to my muscles. Essentially, even i...

This post is in partnership with Pukka Herbs.  You upload your run, your yoga class, your weights session on to Instagram, but somehow the photo of you kicking back on the sofa with a cup of tea and stack of… The post Rest Day Brags appeared first on The Runner Beans . View Source

Nike Epic React Flyknit Nike Epic React Flyknit Nike Epic React Flyknit Nike Epic React Flyknit Nike’s Epic Debut Nike is making a bold statement with its newest running shoe, the Epic React Flyknit. This is the first shoe to feature the company’s new proprietary foam, designed to deliver everything runners want—a light feel on the foot with a cushioned and responsive sole that can endure long miles without losing its snappiness. The new foam is softer than traditional EVA-based foams, making it easier to run on, but the outsole has to be built up a bit taller than usual to avoid runners “bottoming out” and having an uncomfortable underfoot experience. It’s a shoe with a minimal feel but maximum energy return. The shoe has instant aesthetic appeal, designed with a nod to an 80s classic, the International. It is currently available in a navy and white colorway. The Nike Epic React Flyknit will be available February 22 on nike.com and at select retailers. See the March i...

Figure pair skaters Eric Radford and Meagan Duhamel. Photo by Skate Canada / Danielle Earl. There’s more to figure skating than glamorous outfits and stunning performances. Figure skaters challenge their inner core to deliver balance, coordination, jumps, twists, lifts and more while maintaining remarkable endurance strength. For Olympic medalist and Canadian pair skater Meagan Duhamel, who is heading to the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games next month, the sport requires an intense workout schedule–and a bit of running. “I’m competing a long program that is four and one-half minutes long, nonstop,” Duhamel says of her planned Olympic program. “That might not seem like a lot, but in those four and one-half minutes, I have to do two jumping passes, two throws, a twist, three overhead lifts, two spins and various other difficult elements.” Duhamel is a two-time World Champion figure skater, an Olympic silver medalist and a seven-time Canadian National Champion in pair skat...