The Fittest Band Ever: Retribution Gospel Choir
Rockers are known for profligacy, but the members of Retribution Gospel Choir like to be on an even keel. They're a healthy bunch: The guitarist is a trail runner, the bassist is a long-distance runner, and the drummer is a distance swimmer and Ultimate Frisbee champion. Alan Sparhawk, the guitarist and lead singer, took some time to chat with Outside Online about music and his running habit upon the release of RGC's sophomore album, 2. You can catch them on tour through the summer. And you can let us know who you think is the fittest band ever in the comments section, below.
--Aileen Torres
You've toured with Wilco. Any words of wisdom from them?
Not that I can remember. Most people I know who have been doing music for a long time feel just as clueless as ever. It's a strange business. I did go running with Jeff [Tweedy] a few times. He's good company.
How'd you get into running?
I grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota. I started jogging the dirt roads and tractor trails in junior high. We had a ripping orienteering team at our school, and I loved doing that. After high school, I didn't exercise very much--too busy playing guitar and being cool--but in my early 30s, with the encouragement of some friends, I started up again, most always running on trails. I've found it to be vital to my mental health, and a huge boost to creativity.
Training regime?
I run about every other day, usually four to eight miles, with a good
sauna afterward. On the road, we run whenever we can, but our drummer,
Eric, is a water aerobics instructor, so we try to stay where there's a
pool. Having a frisbee in the van is pretty vital, too.
Continue reading "The Fittest Band Ever: Retribution Gospel Choir" »
 |
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
February 03, 2010
A Critical Mass of Naked Runners
The case for barefoot running seems to have gone mainstream in the past week. Last Thursday, Daniel E. Lieberman, a prominent biological anthropologist at Harvard (he researches how humans, and especially athletes, have evolved), published a study in Nature showing that runners with heavily padded shoes tend to strike on their heels, causing stress-related injuries such as plantar fasciitis and tendinitis. The story was picked up by the Boston Globe, the Daily Beast, and even James Fallows, national correspondent at The Atlantic.
The mounting attention is great—hopefully shoe manufacturers will continue to go light and more and more heel-strikers will reform their knee-busting ways. But this is also an example of how old news can quickly be recycled in these aggregated days. Our Lab Rat, Nick Heil, tried out some of the lightest new kicks, including the amphibious-looking Vibram Five Fingers, for a column last summer.
But the guy who's owned this story from the get go is Christopher McDougall. His excellent book Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, published in May, 2008, clearly spells out how savvy marketing foisted heavy cushioning—and, potentially, heavy injuries—on the running public. McDougall's primary source: Lieberman, the Harvard professor. (Shameless plug: my review of McDougall's book is here.)
It's also interesting that this story is gaining traction while writers take the NFL to task for allowing its players to bludgeon one another. In Malcom Gladwell's article Offensive Play, published last fall in the New Yorker, the author points out that "the better helmets have become ... the more athletes have been inclined to play recklessly." Of course, the injuries you incur while running in cushioned shoes are less debilitating than those caused by a helmet-to-helmet hit, but it's worth pointing out the role "better" technology may play in each. The illusion of safety can be a dangerous thing. —ABE STREEP
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 27, 2010
Another Case for Running Barefoot
Seems like mother nature gives us everything we need, including the best running shoes, according to reuters.com. By adding extra calluses our feet can handle a variety of surfaces, says Daniel Lieberman of Harvard college. Lieberman claims that runners with shoes tend to hit the ground heel first. Barefoot runners who hit the dirt on the middle or front of the foot, eliminating intense impact collision—one of the main causes of shin splints and other running ailments. (Already have shin splints? thestretchinghandbook.com has some great suggestions).
Not so sure about going barefoot, despite the increasing press? We don't blame you, especially since it's winter. Check out our Buyer's Guides for the best new running shoes.
--Aurora Wingard
|
Comments (1) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 25, 2010
Female Athletes Have Higher Injury Rate Than Men
Female athletes are far more prone to certain injuries - like to their shoulders and knees - than men, reports Science Daily. But, it doesn't have to be that way. The study, completed by the University of Alberta, says that many of the injuries occurred when women followed training routines developed for young adult males. If coaches target more workouts toward women, those injury rates could fall.
-- Jonah Ogles
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 20, 2010
Warning: Desk Job Harmful to Health
Bad news for us office bums who spend most of the day in a chair: Some new research from the Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that prolonged periods of sitting are detrimental to your health, regardless of whether or not you exercise regularly. Basically, even if I go for a run after work, or lift some weights in the evening, the nine-plus hours I spend sitting at my desk are hurting my body. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer have all been linked with a prolonged periods of sitting. Unsurprisingly, those who don't exercise and sit for long periods of time are affected the most.
It might be time for a quick lap around the office.
-- Lisa Lombardi
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 14, 2010
On Preventing Sports Injuries
Today the New York Times reported that Swiss ski phenom Lara Gut will miss the Olympics due to a hip injury sustained in a crash in October. Whenever I hear news like that, I feel a sharp pang of sympathy. In the past few years I have been plagued with injuries, and each is parts maddening, frustrating and identity-crushing. It must only be magnified dozens of times for a pro.
Of course, I am not a professional athlete, and my injuries tend to be related to overuse and inflammation rather than trauma. But that means that they are probably more preventable, which also means I need to get my head out of my ass and figure out how to prevent them.
So during these humble struggles with a lower back misalignment, calf tear, hip bursitis, and knee tendinitis, I have collected a few glimmers of preventative wisdom that I hope will keep me doing the sports I most love: nordic and backcountry skiing, running, hiking, and biking. Here's a little of what I've gleaned, and at the moment I am blissfully injury-free. If any of you mysterious and silent blog readers want to chime in with your brilliant advice, I'm all ears.
1. Hip Openers
Holy tight hips, man! I learned from a fascial-release therapist in Durango that there's a big, fat mess of ligaments, muscles, bones, and tendons that connect throughout your hips, pelvis, and lower back. If one part gets tight, it can pull on other parts and cause a domino effect of pain.
Continue reading "On Preventing Sports Injuries" »
|
Comments (3) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 13, 2010
Try Lindsey Vonn's Workout
Because we all want to hear as much as possible about superstar skier Lindsey Vonn, I thought I'd post another video on her ridiculous workouts. Among the impressive tricks in this one: weighted squats on top of an upside-down BOSU ball. Take notes, fellas!
|
Comments (1) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 12, 2010
Testing for Exercise-Induced Asthma
A simple test for diagnosing exercise-induced asthma—previously performed on elite athletes—may now be ready for diagnosing the condition in the general public, according to a study done by the Ohio State Medical Center. The test involves forcing a patient to hyperventilate in a controlled setting for six minutes and then measuring lung function to see whether or not it decreased due to the stress. Until now, only elite athletes have been tested for exercise-induced asthma, but many people who are starting off 2010 with a new exercise regimen could be suffering from it, as well. If you notice wheezing, coughing, or a tightness in your chest when exercising, you should stop immediately. Also, know that the winter cold or chemicals used in a pool can make things worse.
-- Lisa Lombardi
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 08, 2010
Ted Ligety's Ski Advice
At 25, Ted Ligety already has Olympic gold under his belt: He was the 2006 winner in the Alpine combined. His other major victories include the 2007-08 World Cup season title in giant slalom and a bronze medal in the GS at the 2009 World Championships (the only medal the U.S. men bagged then). Now, he's concentrating on Vancouver. Ligety took time out from the run-up to chat with Outside Online.
--Aileen Torres
What are your best exercises to build and maintain fitness?
In skiing, having strong legs is important, so squats are great. Core is
also key, so sit-ups with a Russian twist. Back extensions, ham curl's
to help prevent knee injuries. Also, getting outside to hike or bike is
a great way to maintain fitness levels.
Any tips for getting better at skiing?
Flexing your ankles forward is key to staying balanced and to make the
skis arc. Keeping your hands forward is important to stay balanced as
well. Keeping your feet apart is also important as people have a
tendency to pin their feet together, making them sit back and lose
their balance. Ski equipment has improved so much in the last couple
years that a new set up will change your skiing. I recommend Rossignol
because they're the best. And ski more. You'll get better, and it's
fun.
Continue reading "Ted Ligety's Ski Advice" »
|
Comments (1) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
January 06, 2010
Low-Tech Fitness Calculator
A solid way to asses your fitness level is to calculate your VO2max, which is your maximum oxygen consumption during an exercise that gradually increases in intensity, New Scientist reports. The higher your number, the fitter you are. A VO2max test is usually done on a treadmill with you breathing into a face mask, but you can do this test yourself without such gadgetry. Use a watch to measure how quickly you can walk a mile, then measure your heart rate. With your time, heart rate, age, gender, and weight, you can figure out your VO2 max by plugging the numbers into a ready-made calculator.
--Aileen Torres
Photograph by filtran via Flickr
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
