According to Punxsutawney Phil yesterday, we’ve got six more weeks of winter to enjoy - although not many of us out West have had much of a winter so far. Let’s hope the superstition holds true and we get some more precipitation and cold temps this month! If you’re still looking for a Spring Break getaway, sign up for a destination race as an excuse to get out of town.
March 7 - Sand Hollow Marathon & Half Marathon Hurricane, UT
March 15 - Moonlight Beach Half Marathon Encinitas, CA
March 21 - Canyonlands Half Marathon and Five Mile Run Moab, UT
March 22 - Mountain To Fountain 15K Phoenix, AZ
March 28 - Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon Yakima, WA
April 4 - Incline Vista Bend, OR
April 11 - Corvallis Half Marathon & 5K Corvallis, OR
Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon
March 28 — Yakima, WA / Half Marathon, Marathon
Check out these point-to-point races on paved state highway through the beautiful Yakima River Canyon. The half marathon is fulling up fast so register today!
Corvallis Half Marathon & 5K
April 11 — Corvallis, OR / 5K, Half Marathon
This scenic, 13.1 mile 'Tour de Corvallis' is mostly flat with two slow gradual climbs, and two gradual descents. The entire course is on paved roads, sidewalk and bike paths. The 5k is one of the flattest around.
Over the weekend, we watched some fantastic racing at the prestigious Millrose Games, including wins by Cole Hocker in the 2-mile and Nikki Hiltz in the Wannamaker Mile.
We all know running and cycling have benefits far beyond physical health. Although health or weight management might be an initial stimulus to take that first lap around the block, most of us continue training for other reasons, including “a sense of belonging and connection,” which many find when joining a weekly group workout or run club. When joining a group, we can learn from others, gather advice, find out about new events: “...running with others brings motivation, joy and a profound sense of belonging. It becomes more than just a workout – it’s an opportunity to connect, share goals and uplift each other.”
Stride with Strength: The Power of Women's Running Communities
Almost all athletes have experienced agonizing and frustrating exercise-induced muscle cramps at some point. If you’re lucky (like me), it’s rare and usually quickly resolved; if you’re not so lucky (like Paul), far too many runs bring on a hamstring, quad, or calf cramp seemingly out of nowhere. The causes are up for debate and rarely agreed upon. It does appear that the traditional thought of an electrolyte imbalance holds some truth, but also that the real root cause has more to do with a nervous system deregulation: “...muscles are getting mixed signals about whether to contract or relax. The result is excessive activation of motor neurons that stimulate muscle fibers into a sustained, involuntary contraction – a cramp.” If you’re trying to figure out the key to kick the cramp, dive into these discussions for more info.
Why do athletes suffer from cramp?
What causes muscle cramps during exercise? Athletes and coaches may want to look at the playing surface
The Science of Cramp
And finally, start rebuilding your shoe cache with these suggestions from the pros at Running Warehouse.
