Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Running: Getting Under the Surface
by Andrew Davis
2003-09-17

This article shared 3276 times since Wed Sep 17, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


Running is running is running, right?

Well, no.

Just about anyone who's run at least a block knows that a lot of items can affect how you jog, including your attire and even the weather. Another factor that can influence your running—and your body—is the ground surface. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of various surfaces:

Dirt—Pros: Dirt is generally a great running surface unless it's powdery or hard as a rock. Because dirt softens the impact of downhill running, it's highly recommended for workouts on hills. Cons: A rough or muddy trail exposes you to the risk of lower-leg and ankle injuries. This possibility is definitely true if leaves or mud conceals rocks or roots. Things to consider: Paying attention is the key to injury-free trail running. Look away at that cute jogger for too long and you could twist an ankle.

Grass—Pros: If you tend to get injured on the road, then running on mowed grass is wonderful. Try to seek grass (the legal kind) at city parks, college athletic fields (if nothing else for the view), and golf-course fairways. Cons: Mushy, soft grass is fun to lie down on ... but can twist an ankle if you're running. Things to consider: If you choose to run on a golf course, watch out for balls and carts. Tiger Woods has enough distractions.

Wood—Pros: Since wood is both smooth and springy, it makes indoor board tracks, wood-chip paths, and beach boardwalks excellent running spots. Cons: Repeatedly circling a track is not only boring but all potentially harmful because the curves are often sharp and banked. Things to consider: Only run a few laps on your first few visits to an indoor track. If practical, reverse direction every few laps to distribute the stress equally.

Track—Pros: The resilient, even plane of an outdoor track poses the least risk to runners who tend to suffer joint-related injuries. Track surfaces can range from soft dirt to rubberized asphalt, but all are good if kept in nice condition. Cons: If you plan on running more than four miles (16 laps), a track can be a bad choice; rounding the curves can bother your knees and feet. Also, unless you're jogging behind a Greek god (or goddess), you could become bored silly. Things to consider: This is the best choice for speed workouts and even jumping rope. Stay away from old, neglected tracks.

Treadmill—Pros: A gym-quality treadmill is both smooth and cushioned, without the bumpiness of trails and the harsh impact of other surfaces. You also don't have to deal with harsh weather, unless you're driving through rough winds to get to the health club. Cons: Well, let's see ... there's overheating, the potential humiliation of falling off, and the fact that your muscles constantly fire the same way, causing you to get fatigued faster. Then, there's the boredom factor. Things to consider: If you're a control freak, this tread's for you. You can change the speed and incline while getting constant feedback.

Asphalt—Pros: Smooth asphalt is a friend to your ankles. Any shoe with a decent midsole and outer sole can absorb much of the impact. Cons: Road running can beat up nearly all of your lower-body muscles and tendons as well as your back. If you're vulnerable to hamstring or lower-back tightness, go off-road instead. Things to consider: Running on banked road shoulders can produce various leg-related injuries.

Sand—Pros: Sand is an ideal running surface, but only if it's the right kind. The best sand running is done on a flat beach at low tide in the tidal zone, the area that's wet and pretty hard. (Get your mind out of the gutter.) Cons: Watch out for your knees and other joints. Running in shoes on hard sand provides stability and motion control. Things to consider: Limit soft-sand running to short sprints. This type of exercise provides an unbeatable high-intensity/low-impact training method for sports where foot speed is important (e.g., tennis and basketball).

Hills—Pros: Hill climbs can strengthen the hamstrings and groin muscles, not to mention the heart and lungs. Running downhill works your quadriceps and shins. Cons: Too much climbing can lead to an overuse injury of the hamstrings or Achilles tendons; descending too much can bring on a knee injury. Add ups and downs gradually. Things to consider: Because landing on your heels while going downhill is pretty jarring, try to do your hill workouts off-road and wear well-cushioned shoes.

Snow/Ice—Pros: If you can think of one, e-mail me. Cons: Running on snow or surfaces made slippery by ice or rain can overextend your groin muscles if you slip even slightly. Then, say hello to Mr. Muscle Tear and Mr. Groin Pull. Things to consider: You're better off staying indoors on a treadmill watching a Lifetime movie as you run. If you must run on this surface, wear shoes with very, very good traction.

Concrete—Pros: If it's maintained well, concrete is very smooth. Cons: Believe it or not, concrete is about 10 times harder than asphalt, so all of your bones, muscles, and connective tissue are pounded constantly. Things to consider: Needless to say, wear shoes that are extremely well-cushioned. Plus, slip in some gel or neoprene heel pads.

Sources: Men's Fitness; 1st-in-fitness.com; runningstrong.net .

****

'Burb Living

People living in sprawling suburbs are more likely to be obese and have higher blood pressure than those in compact cities, according to the first national study examining health consequences of urban planning.

Researchers examined urban development in 448 counties—where about two-thirds of the U.S. population reside—and health and census data of more than 200,000 of those residents.

People weighed as much as six pounds more in high-sprawl areas than those in compact counties.

Sprawl was determined through a 'sprawl index'—ranking counties based on population and development patterns, such as the proportion of small blocks that people can walk. Scores ranged from 63 for the most sprawling county, just outside of Cleveland, to 352 for the least sprawling—Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs.

'People are driving to work, to lunch, to school—basically they're driving everywhere,' said Dr. Reid Ewing, professor of smart growth at Rutgers University and chief author of the study.

How did we do? Well, people in Cook County are 10.09 percent less likely to be obese than the average American; however, people in Grundy County (which includes East Brooklyn, Minooka, and Coal City) are 2.63 percent more likely to be obese.

Sources: San Mateo County Times; CNN.com; Chicago Tribune.

I'm at westelm406@yahoo.com .


This article shared 3276 times since Wed Sep 17, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Brown Elephant Returns To Northalsted
2024-03-26
Brown Elephant's Lake View location is moving to Northalsted and already accepting donations. Howard Brown Health, the largest LGBTQ+ health center in the midwest, operates three Brown Elephant resale shops in the Chicagoland area to help ...


Gay News

Be here, be queer, play polo: Gay Polo League creates safe athletic space for LGBTQ community
2024-03-26
LGBTQ+ athletic clubs aren't too hard to come by, offering a variety of sports such as softball, soccer and more in cities across the country. But LGBTQ+ athletes would be harder pressed to find someplace to ...


Gay News

After 30 Under 30: MAP Executive Director Naomi Goldberg
2024-03-25
NOTE: In this series, Windy City Times will profile some of its past 30 Under 30 honorees. Windy City Times started its 30 Under 30 Awards in 2001, presenting them each year through 2019. This year, ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars stay undefeated
2024-03-24
Chicago Red Stars stay undefeated On March 23, the Chicago Red Stars took down the Seattle Reign FC 2-1 in the club's home opener at SeatGeek Stadium. With the win, the Red Stars are now 2-0-0 ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

ACTIVITIES Pickleball, fine eats and fun are all at SPF
2024-03-21
Despite the fact that it was invented in 1965, pickleball has only really entered the national consciousness within the last few years. However, there really hadn't been a large indoor dedicated space in Chicago for the ...


Gay News

2024 OLYMPICS U.S. women's soccer team's opponents set
2024-03-20
The United States women's national soccer team will face Australia, Germany, and either Morocco or Zambia in Group B at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ESPN reported. The tournament will mark the Americans' first competitive games with ...


Gay News

Alyssa Naeher wins National Women's Soccer League Impact Save of the Week
2024-03-20
--From a press release - CHICAGO (March 20, 2024) — Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors, the league announced today. Seven minutes into the eight minutes of added ...


Gay News

Affinity celebrates Burning Bowl while looking toward the future
2024-03-19
On March 17, Affinity Community Services held its annual Burning Bowl ceremony even as it already sets its organizational sights on 2025. The event, titled Burning Bowl 2024 Evolution, was held at Studio Imani, 5917 N. ...


Gay News

Red Stars start season with 2-0 win
2024-03-17
On March 16, the Chicago Red Stars kicked off their 2024 campaign with a 2-0 road win over Utah Royals FC in the Royals' inaugural match back in the National Women's Soccer League. Ally Schlegel and ...


Gay News

College athletes sue NCAA over transgender policies
2024-03-15
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among a group of college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on March 14, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing trans swimmer Lia Thomas ...


Gay News

SPORTS Red Stars prepare to kick off NWSL season against Utah Royals
2024-03-15
It's been a busy winter for the Red Stars, and it's time to put their work to the test. Following a last place finish in the 2023 NWSL season, Chicago has had an active offseason transforming ...


Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community
2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars release 2024 roster
2024-03-13
CHICAGO (March 13, 2024) — The Chicago Red Stars announced today their final roster ahead of the 2024 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season. The club's roster is bolstered by an array of experience brought not ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health faces October trial if settlement isn't reached with union
2024-03-13
Howard Brown Health could go to trial over unfair labor practice allegations if the LGBTQ+ health center doesn't reach a settlement with its agreement soon. Chicago's regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.