I enjoyed this week's Boston Marathon as a participant from Heartbreak Hill.  It was great seeing an american win for the first time in over 30 years.
The word at this year's Boston Marathon was that security was super tight and would extend to "bandits" running without a bib.
see: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/04/12/long-accepted-boston-marathon-bandits-fall-prey-stricter-security/sIuP6HB8xVYI8GChTzzs5H/story.html
But some folks decided they wanted to run so bad, that they... Read full post

If you’re staying at the Los Angeles Airport and planning to go for a run, beware!
I was staying at a hotel at the Los Angeles Airport.  I decided to go for a run in the morning and asked for suggestions from the front desk.  They suggested a run to the Pacific Ocean, which was just 3.5 miles away.  The front desk helpfully traced the route using a yellow highlighter on a street map, which I placed into my pocket.
Let me stop here and give you a quick overview of the Los... Read full post

 
A fascinating article on deaths caused from sports.  Claims that causes of death due to heat stroke and dehydration are largely untrue.
This raises interesting questions about how much hydration during an extreme event is necessary.
http://www.sportsscientists.com/2013/01/dangerous-exercise-hype-of-dehydration.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FcJKs+%28The+Science+of+Sport%29
 
What does everyone else think?
 
Tom

One study says olympic athletes live longer:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/14/fast-stronger-longer-olympians-outlive-the-rest-of-us/
Now another says being overweight is an advantage:
http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/02/being-overweight-is-linked-to-lower-risk-of-mortality/
 
What do you think?

I am looking for some recomendations on inspirational books about running and extreme sports in general.
I've enjoyed some great books on running:  especially "Confessions of an All-Night Runner" and "Born to Run"
Reading "Once a Runner" now.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for me?
Here is a top-5 list from someone on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Books-About-Running/lm/R244RX5QYI3Q7W
Has anyone read any of these?
Tom

With very short notice, only 4 days in fact, Helene, Magnus and I jumped on a last minute holiday to Bitez (Bodrum) in Turkey. Unfortunately Emil couldn't make it since he was on a "Diamond Extreme" survival trip with the scouts.
With only very little time to research the destination we did not know what to expect - other than sun and warmth, and getting away, which is what we needed as a family.
We had a fantastic time, as I think the photos show! Great scenery, great weather, wonderful... Read full post

I had really looked forward to finish the season competing in Wasdale Triathlon - arguably the world's hardest half ironman distance race (see description from the race organizer below).
Unfortunately we were hit by the worst possible weather! Torrential rain, flooded roads, potholes covered by water making it dangerous going fast or descending from Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass, 70+ mph winds, zero visibility in the mountains.
The 6.30 am race briefing was moved to 7.30 am and we were told... Read full post

Wasdale Half Iron Distance Triathlon.Doing this on Sunday 30 September - final race of the seasonQuoting the website: The Worlds hardest Half Iron Triathlon set beneath the towering cliffs of Wasdale Screes in the English Lake District. Wastwater, the Lake District, is where the day begins with a 1.2mile swim in the deepest and coldest lake in the British Isles.Incorporating the fearsome twin passes of Hardknott and Wrynose, covering 56 miles and climbing 7,217 vertical feet, the bike ride is... Read full post

How easy is it to cheat during a marathon?
Hilarious article in the August New Yorker about a man driven to run a marathon in all 50 states but raising a lot of suspician that he is actually running them.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/06/120806fa_fact_singer?currentPage=all
What do you think?  How could he pull off this hoax?  Or, is he for real?
tom barrett

I ran my first (and so far only) marathon just over a year ago at the age of 51.  I am proud of not only finishing and raising money for charity, but achieving the respectable time of 3:54.  I "beat" four hours.
Last week, Paul Ryan on a talk show radio show said that, in his first (and only) marathon about twenty years ago, that he "beat" three hours, running a "2:50 somehting" when he was in his twenties.  This is an impressive time for anyone.
It turns out it wasn't true.... Read full post