Author: Kevin Noonan

The First-Time Marathoner’s Guide to Fuel and Hydration for Your Marathon Training

First-time marathoners, if your training program is overwhelming you (and, if you’re anything like I was during training for my first 26.2, it is), I’m here to make one particular part of your marathon journey significantly less complicated and confusing: fuel. Specifically how to go about it when your runs get long.

When training for a marathon, people tend to focus on (and stress about) the obvious: running long and often. However, an overlooked—yet super important—component of crossing the finish line and staying healthy throughout your entire training cycle is midrun nutrition.

For some, it might seem simple: Can’t I just chomp down on half a banana during a long run? For others, it might be confusing: Is eating lots of sugar OK? What about GI issues, cramping, or bloating?

Use this as your guide to eating and drinking on the run, which is necessary for anyone training for a marathon. From gels to chews, hydration tabs to caffeine, here’s the deal, not only with what to consume while running, but why it’s one of the most important things to think about when it comes to crossing the finish line. Continue reading

Heat is killing more people than ever. Scientists are looking for ways to lower the risk

“It’s 5 a.m. and still dark at the Carlton Complex fire camp in central Washington, except for the fire’s orange glow on a distant ridgeline. Wildlands firefighter Bre Orcasitas, two colleagues, and three volunteers suit up: heavy duty fire-resistant pants, shirt, jacket, and helmet. Their boots weigh 2 kilograms; the backpacks they will haul to the fire—loaded with 6 liters of water, food for a 16-hour shift, safety gear, and hand tools—can weigh 30 kilograms. Sometimes the burden includes a 12-kilogram chain saw.

Read the full article at ScienceMag.org

The Smart Heart Sports Coalition Announced by the NFL

Infographic with the following informationSudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death for student athletes. Sports-related SCA accounts for nearly 40% of SCAs among people under the age of 18. Only seven stateshave implemented all three best practice policies: EAPs for high school athletic venues; AEDs at each venue; coaching safety education. Twelve states have none. As many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience SCA annually (out-of-hospital).

Sources: American Heart Association, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, Korey Stringer Institute