Watch Out For Dogs!

I found this on the AJC online. It reminds us as runners to be cautious.

4 pit bulls destroyed for mauling 2 Calif. runners

The Associated Press

VALLEY CENTER, Calif. — A San Diego County runner who said he had chunks torn from his legs by pit bulls said he thought he would die during the mauling.

"I was dripping blood from all over — my shirt, socks, shoes," Richard Garritson, 21, told the San Diego Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/vLBHLf ) on Monday after undergoing surgery.

Garritson and his brother were attacked by a pack of pit bulls as they jogged on a trail late Sunday afternoon about a mile from their home.

Read more here.

Gifts For Runners

I found this on Runners World online; you can look at unique gifts for your fellow runners or standard runners gifts.

Standard running fair: http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/gear-of-the-year-2011/

Unique gifts: http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/unique-gifts/

Zombies to hasten runners in Georgia 5K

From the AJC online…

Zombies to hasten runners in Georgia 5K

By George Mathis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Need encouragement to finish a race in record time?

How about being pursued by a pack of ravenous zombies?

The Run for Your Lives 5K adventure race is expanding to several new cities in 2012, including one in north Georgia, promoters announced Tuesday. The race will take hardy souls through a series of obstacles over a 3.1-mile course. The Georgia race will be held March 3 and begin in Durhamtown Plantation Sports Complex in Union Point -- about an hour and a half east of Atlanta near I-20.

Racers will wear a flag football-like belt with three flags. Zombies will attempt to pull the flags and disqualify the runner. The runner to cross the finish line with at least one flag will be a "survivor."

An after-race party will be open to runners and zombies, and will feature live music and vendors.

Read on here.

Wednesday Night Run 11-23-2011

Hello ORC,

Today’s temps will be in the 70’s, seriously the 70’s, but there is a cold weather front is moving in bringing rain and cooler temps. It’s not so bad with temps in the 50’s tomorrow night. Your run on Wednesday night will build up your appetite for Thanksgiving. The Garden Lights/Holiday Lights are coming out at Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Scandal is at Dad’s Garage. There are some good shows at Eddie’s Attic, The variety Playhouse, and others all across town. Ice skating is starting up also from Centennial to St Regis. Anyone want to buy the Plaza Theatre? Watch out for those coyotes!

What else is going on this week/weekend?  Anyone want to share?

It’s Thanksgiving week so the Turkey races are all lined up starting on Thursday with the ATC Half Marathon. If you want to double up on half’s, the ZOOMA Women’s Half Marathon is at Chateau Elan. Want a 3^rd half, well there is the Run Off the Turkey Half Marathon at Stone Mountain. There are plenty of opportunities here and there to run off Thanksgiving.

This Wednesday you will be running route 6.  It's the elephant run as named by Gail.  There are the challenging hills of Delano, the grind up Rogers, and of course climbing up McClendon.  By the way, if it is getting too dark for this route to be run, let me know and I will shelve it for the winter. And of course since daylight is shrinking away, wear your lights and other reflective gear for the run. The link to the route is at the bottom of this e-mail. After the run it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks and trivia.

Enjoy your run Wednesday night.  Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9kfg7f38KdBOGNjYzcxMzMtNmI1ZC00MzVlLThkYjAtYzJhMjRlZWUzODYx&hl=en

Local Races This Weekend

Thursday, November 24

ATC Atlanta Half Marathon & Thanksgiving 5K, Atlanta

Turkey Day 5K & Mile & Tot Trot, McDonough

MDJ Gobble Jog 10K/5K/1K/Tot Trot, Marietta

Saturday, November 26

ZOOMA Women's Half Marathon & 5K, Chateau Elan

Noble Heroes Foundation Hero Run 5K and Fun Run, Lawrenceville

Aubrae Gunderson Memorial Scholarship 5K Walk & Run & High Heel Hustle, Conyers

Sunday, November 27

Run Off the Turkey Half Marathon & 5K, Stone Mountain

The Right Reasons to Stretch Before Exercise

From the NY Times…

November 16, 2011, 12:01 am

The Right Reasons to Stretch Before Exercise

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

For an article being published in next month’s issue of The British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia reviewed dozens of recent studies of stretching, hoping to determine whether the practice prevents people from getting sore after they exercise. The authors found 12 studies completed in the past 25 years that looked directly at that issue. Most were small and short-term. But each produced essentially the same result, the review authors write, showing that “stretching does not produce important reductions in muscle soreness in the days following exercise.”

That does not mean that you shouldn’t stretch, the study’s authors add, but it does indicate that stretching may not provide the benefits that many of us expect.

Read on here.

The case against antioxidant vitamin supplements

From Sweat Science…

The case against antioxidant vitamin supplements

November 17th, 2011

The December issue of Sports Medicine has an enormous, detailed review of research on the effect of antioxidant (i.e. vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzymeQ10, etc.) supplements on training. To most people, this seems like a no-brainer: what could be smarter than popping a multivitamin as “insurance” in case your diet isn’t giving you all the vitamins you need? But (as I’ve blogged about before) there’s an emerging school of thought arguing that taking antioxidants can actually block some of the gains you’d otherwise get from training. Here’s how I explained the debate back in April:

Read on here.

Tips for Training Through the Winter

From Running Times online, regardless if this article is meant for High School runners, the idea is the same among all runners.

Tips for Training Through the Winter

It might be your offseason, but use the winter to improve your fitness for the spring

By Jonathan Beverly

As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine

After following detailed plans during the fall, many runners take a more relaxed approach to winter. Just getting in miles now and then, however, won’t make you ready to start an aggressive training program in the spring — you’ll have to train to be able to train, delaying and limiting your spring goals. You need not, however, follow a rigid plan all winter. Just make sure you get in key elements regularly, elements that will build fitness, flexibility and strength and, perhaps, make training more fun than just logging easy miles day after day.

Below is a summary I sent to high school kids I help coach. It will work equally well for older runners looking to maintain fitness and build toward more audacious goals in the spring. This is essentially how I train when I am not working toward a specific race.

Read on here.

Wednesday Night Run 11-16-2011

Hello ORC,

This weekend is the annual chili cook off at Steinbeck’s. Check it out and challenge others with your chili. There are a couple of things going on at the Oakhurst Community Gardens from the Garden jam to building your own chicken coop; or make your own cheese. Mugs For Jugs continues at Mudfire. The Emory Dance Company Fall Concert is this weekend. Paideia Art Visions is also this weekend. The Super Villain Monologues is at Dad’s Garage. The Firehouse Guitars AMP Student Showcase is at Eddie’s Attic. At the Trolley Barn is the 27th Annual Auction & Holiday Sale for the Inman Park Cooperative Preschool.

What else is going on this week and weekend?

As for local races this weekend on Saturday, November 19, is the Race 2 Recycle 5K at Piedmont Park. For something different is the 13th Annual 5K Cross Country Turkey Trot in Conyers . At Lenox Mall is the Run! Foster! Run! 5K while at Centennial Olympic Park is the PurpleStride 5K. Farther out is the One Step Forward 5K Run for ALS in Marietta and closer in is the Viking 5K & Mile in Decatur. On Sunday, November 20, is the Elliott's Run 5K & Fun Run at the Galloway School and the Running Thanksgiving Half Marathon & 5K in Snellville.

It gets dark earlier so please bring out the reflective vests, shirts, jackets, and lights for your safety. On Wednesday night you will be running route 13.  The route goes up the hard flat of Oakview and hits the hills of Spence/McDonough.  The link to the route is at the bottom of this e-mail.  After the run it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks and trivia.

Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9kfg7f38KdBYjJmOWIyYzAtZjUzYi00ZWQ0LWExZmMtMTIyNWJlYmQ3YjZj&hl=en

NYC Marathoner Loses Car For Two Days

From Fox Sports online…

Marathon runner loses car for two days

Updated Nov 13, 2011 9:51 AM ET

Charles Petraske completed last Sunday’s New York City Marathon in a respectable three hours and 16 minutes -- and then suffered every motorist’s worst nightmare.

He could not remember where he parked his car. For two days.

Petraske, 34, a sales rep who lives near Albany, drove his hybrid Hyundai Sonata to Midtown early Sunday morning for the race.

He parked his car in a garage and left his ticket on the dashboard. In a small pocket of his running shorts, he stuffed $40 and a key before boarding a charter bus to the Staten Island start line.

After finishing the grueling course, he hailed a cab to take him back to Bryant Park. But when Petraske, still sweating, looked around, nothing looked familiar.

“I was completely disoriented,” he said. “I had no idea where the heck I was, or where my car is parked, and I had no phone and no money.”

The only thing he remembered was parking near a scrolling billboard displaying ads for Coke Mini, New York State Lottery and MasterCard.

Read on here.

Seven Safety Tips For Running In The Dark

From Running Competitor online…

Seven Safety Tips For Running In The Dark

Updated: Nov 3rd 2011 2:08 PM UTC

by Linzay Logan

Use these suggestions to stay safe when the sun goes down.

Daylight savings is ending soon and before we know it the sun will be setting long before we got off work to get in an evening run. If you are more scared of running on the treadmill than running in the dark make sure you follow these seven safety tips to stay safe when the boogieman is out.

Read on here.